High Street Review

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what additional funding his Department plans to allocate to successful Portas pilots; and what criteria will be used in judging the effectiveness of the Portas pilots;
	(2)  what data his Department is collecting to monitor the success of (a) Town Team pilots and (b) the High Street Innovation Fund.

Grant Shapps: The successful Portas pilots will each receive up to £100,000 along with a comprehensive package of support. Each of the pilots will be putting in place appropriate indicators to monitor the impact of their actions locally. We will also be commissioning a national study which will measure impact from the successful pilots, enabling the sharing of best practice and lessons learnt across the country.
	Local areas were awarded the High Street Innovation fund to support empty properties on the high street and drive their local economy and are responsible for ensuring that it is spent effectively. No central data will be collected on the use of the High Street Innovation Fund reflecting the fact that this Government is committed to reducing top-down reporting burdens on local government; we would encourage the spread of best practice, especially at the local government level.

Housing Companies

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have established local housing companies to date.

Grant Shapps: Local housing companies pilots were a programme of the last administration; the Homes and Communities Agency concluded that such schemes were not viable in the short-term due to the prevailing conditions of the housing market.
	Some local councils may have subsequently pursued local initiatives, but such information is not centrally collated.

Landlords: Prosecutions

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many private landlords have been prosecuted for evicting tenants who have requested that repairs are made to the property, in each of the last five years.

Grant Shapps: Government do not hold this information. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 September 2012, Official Report, 118256, which makes clear, the English Housing Survey strongly suggests that the incidence of landlords evicting tenants because they requested repairs is very low.

Local Government: Pay

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities increased pay for staff earning less than £21,000 per annum by £250 or more between 2010 and 2012.

Bob Neill: holding answer 17 July 2012
	The information requested is not held centrally. While the Government's overall policy on public sector pay sets the context in which decisions about pay are taken locally by councils, Government has no role in determining annual pay awards in local authorities. These are for the employers and unions to negotiate within the framework of the relevant National Joint Committee.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what timetable he has set for his Department's review of neighbourhood planning;
	(2)  what key performance indicators his Department plans to use to evaluate neighbourhood planning.

Greg Clark: In line with the Government's policy of regularly reviewing domestic regulation enacted through secondary legislation, the deadline for the publication of the results of the statutory review is set out in the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.
	The Government is committed to reviewing and understanding the impacts, outputs and value for money of neighbourhood development plans, neighbourhood development orders and community right to build. We have set out a post-implementation review plan in the impact assessment on Neighbourhood Plans and Community Right to Build. It proposes that the review is undertaken between three and five years following Royal Assent of the Localism Act 2011. The impact assessment, which includes measurable success criteria, can be found at:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2012/9780111525050/impacts

Energy: Meters

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to regulate the installation of smart meters as part of the smart meter roll-out.

Charles Hendry: The Government is requiring the installation of smart meters by the end of 2019 through an obligation on gas and electricity suppliers. It is establishing a detailed regulatory framework to underpin the roll-out. This includes the development of a minimum technical specification for smart meters, the establishment of a central body to handle communications with smart meters, a consumer engagement strategy, a data access and privacy regime and various consumer protections, including a requirement for an installation Code of Practice.

Energy: Meters

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure transparency from energy companies in the daily management of customer data as a result of the introduction of smart meters.

Charles Hendry: The Government has recently consulted on proposals which would make suppliers responsible for explaining clearly to their own customers what data will be accessed, for which purposes, and what choices those customers have. The Government has also proposed that suppliers should remind their customers annually about the data that is being collected and the choices that the consumer has.
	In addition to these proposed requirements, there are general requirements relating to transparency on all data controllers under the Data Protection Act.
	The Government is also implementing the midata project, which aims to give individuals more access to, and control over, the data that companies hold on them. The aim is to enable consumers to view, access and use their personal and transaction data in a way that is portable and safe.

Energy: Meters

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to set up a consumer engagement strategy, as part of the digital switchover, ahead of the smart meter installation programme.

Charles Hendry: The Government believes that an effective strategy for consumer engagement is needed to help deliver the expected benefits from the roll-out of smart meters. We recently consulted on the development of the strategy. The consultation is available at:
	www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_smip/cons_smip.aspx
	It is now closed and the Government will respond later this year.
	The strategy is not part of the digital switchover, but in developing the strategy we have sought to learn from this and other relevant programmes.

Energy: Meters

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that the evidence base for his Department's conclusions about the ability of smart meter solutions to reach (a) areas of Great Britain and (b) numbers of consumers is robust.

Charles Hendry: The Government has developed a robust evidence base for the smart meters programme, which is reflected in regularly updated programme impact assessments.
	Communications to and from smart meters will be the responsibility of the new Data Communications Company (DCC). Companies providing communications services to the DCC will have to demonstrate how they will deliver a comprehensive solution across Great Britain. These services are now being procured, and it is anticipated that this process will be finalised in spring 2013.
	Energy suppliers are required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that a smart meter is installed at their customers' premises by the roll-out deadline of the end of 2019. To ensure that energy suppliers have robust plans in place to meet this requirement, suppliers are providing DECC with detailed information about their planned roll-outs over the period to 2019 in terms of timing, area and volume. This process is ongoing and will enable the programme to monitor suppliers' progress in rolling out smart meters to all of their customers in all parts of Great Britain.

Energy: Prices

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Office of Rail Regulation's 13th Periodic Review, what assessment he has made of the effect on the competitiveness of UK industry of higher energy prices.

Gregory Barker: The Government is aware of the importance of energy prices to UK industry; that is why the Chancellor announced a package of measures in the 29 November 2011 Autumn Statement, Official Report, columns 799-810, worth £250 million over the current spending review period to assist electricity intensive industries. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is considering the results of its recent consultation on track access charges levied on rail freight operators in the next railway funding Control Period from 2014 to 2019; no decisions have yet been made.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to promote the uptake of the Warm Homes Discount.

Gregory Barker: The Core and Broader Group elements of the warm home discount scheme offer fixed value discounts off eligible customers' energy bills. These were worth £120 in 2011-12 and will be worth £130 in 2012-13.
	In terms of promoting uptake for 2012-13, eligibility for the Core Group of the warm home discount scheme is based on a customer or their partner on 21 July 2012 receiving only the guarantee credit element of pension credit or, if they are aged 80 or over receiving the guarantee credit element of pension credit, (even if they get savings credit too). In each case the pension credit recipient or their partner must be named on their electricity bill with one of the participating energy supply companies.
	As this elderly group may struggle to claim, the Core Group uses limited data sharing between the energy companies and DWP to let the energy companies know which of their customers is in receipt of this benefit. When a supplier is notified by Government, they can then credit an automatic discount to the customer's account. On this basis, in 2012-13, we expect around 1 million pensioners will receive an automatic discount. Customers who may be eligible for the discount but who cannot be identified by data sharing, will have the chance to claim. Over 85% of those who will receive the discount in 2012-13 are expected to be found automatically.
	All relevant pension credit customers who are or may be eligible will receive a letter from Government this winter, letting them know they will receive an automatic discount or that they may need to claim. Information about the scheme is available at:
	www.direct.gov/warmhome
	but as the Core Group is designed to find customers automatically, Government is not proactively promoting the Core Group to reduce raising the expectations of customers who will not be eligible.
	For the Broader Group, energy suppliers are responsible for promoting their own schemes to ensure that they are able to meet their broader group obligations. Information is available via both the:
	www.direct.gov/warmhome
	and DECC websites on the schemes suppliers have available and links directly to suppliers' application processes. Government also promotes the support available through the Broader Group via its network of stakeholders.

Afghanistan

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of airlifting equipment and supplies out of Afghanistan should overland routes not be a viable option for withdrawal in 2014.

Peter Luff: Every effort is being made to ensure ground lines of communication (GLOCs) (overland routes into, and out of, Afghanistan) remain open. The Pakistani Government recently announced that it will reopen the Pakistani GLOC following a telephone conversation between US Secretary of State Clinton and Pakistan Foreign Minister Khar.
	NATO has also secured the necessary memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the central Asian republics that facilitate the northern distribution network (the northern entry or exit point to and from Afghanistan) which has been further reinforced by UK bilateral MOUs.
	Where there are no time pressures, low grade materiel equipment and supplies would be recovered by surface means in shipping containers. However, recovery by air forms a significant part of the UK redeployment plan particularly for protected mobility vehicles, sensitive materiel and outsized loads.
	The approximate costs of the redeployment of surface containers range from £5,000 to £12,000 per container. For the air line of communication, costs range between £10,000 and £30,000 per container equivalent, either returning directly to the UK by air or by a combination of air and other options. The detailed costs would vary depending on the scenario and would be subject to commercial in confidence considerations between the Ministry of Defence and partnered contractors.

Army: Recruitment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the (a) recruitment targets and (b) levels of recruitment (including shortfalls) were for each of the Scottish regiments for each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what the (a) recruitment targets and (b) levels of recruitment (including shortfalls) were for (i) 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, (ii) 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, (iii) 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment and (iv) 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh for each of the last 10 years.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 10 July 2012
	The Army sets recruitment targets at regimental level. Recruits are then allocated to the battalion within their chosen regiment where the demand is greatest. Priority is given to battalions preparing for operations.
	The following table shows the overall manning position at April of each year—by Regiment—including establishment and recruiting performance for each of the last 10 years: Recruitment targets prior to 2007 are not held centrally in the format requested.
	
		
			   2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Average +/-  %  of strength Average +/-  %  of  establishment 
			 Scots Guards Establishment 632 691 691 711 713 709 706 709 709 703 — — 
			  Strength 547 632 620 589 623 682 568 655 655 645 — — 
			  +/- -85 -59 -71 -122 -90 -27 -138 -54 -54 -58 -12 -10 
			  Recruiting target (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 102 146 142 172 198 — — 
			  Actual (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 101 147 139 170 143 — — 
			  +/- (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— -1 1 -3 -2 -55 — — 
			               
			 Royal Regt Scotland Establishment 2,704 2,760 2,759 2,766 2,780 2,788 2,818 2,782 2,775 2,764 — — 
			  Strength 2,323 2,483 2,386 2,269 2,461 2,518 2,311 2,332 2,376 2,410 — — 
			  +/- -381 -277 -373 -497 -319 -270 -507 -450 -399 -354 -16 -14 
			  Recruiting target (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 486 545 688 455 671 — — 
			  Actual (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 262 311 639 456 641 — — 
			  +/- (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— -224 -234 -49 1 -30 — — 
			               
			 Royal Regt Fusiliers Establishment 1,112 1,112 1,112 1,142 1,142 1,138 1,141 1,112 1,109 1,131 — — 
			  Strength 957 1,034 1,025 978 961 940 924 1,062 1,087 1,124 — — 
			  +/- -155 -78 -87 -164 -181 -198 -217 -50 -22 -7 -12 -10 
			  Recruiting target (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 310 304 289 242 256 — — 
			  Actual (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 263 289 274 242 241 — — 
			  +/- (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— -47 -15 -15 0 -15 — — 
			               
			 Yorkshire Regt Establishment 1,638 1,667 1,667 1,643 1,643 1,678 1,676 1,676 1,664 1,664 — — 
			  Strength 1,571 1,616 1,608 1,498 1,462 1,334 1,352 1,382 1,392 1,488 — — 
			  +/- -67 -51 -59 -145 -181 -344 -324 -294 -272 -176 -13 -12 
			  Recruiting target (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 425 450 441 387 481 — — 
			  Actual (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 280 355 426 372 371 — — 
			  +/- (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— -145 -95 -15 -15 -110 — — 
			               
			 Mercian Regt Establishment 1,626 3,626 1,667 1,668 1,668 1,667 1,647 1,676 1,671 1,664 — — 
			  Strength 1,506 1,491 1,476 1,352 1,344 1,384 1,453 1,552 1,498 1,440 — — 
			  +/- -120 -135 -191 -316 -324 -283 -194 -124 -173 -224 -14 -13 
			  Recruiting target (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 483 513 395 270 432 — — 
			  Actual (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 386 456 381 266 439 — — 
			  +/- (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— -97 -57 -14 -4 7 — — 
			               
			 Royal Welsh Establishment 1,141 1,141 1,141 1,142 1,142 1,140 1,138 1,138 1,132 1,102 — — 
			  Strength 1,108 1,108 1,027 975 908 932 1,025 1,072 1,030 1,030 — — 
			  +/- -33 -33 -114 -167 -234 -208 -113 -66 -102 -72 -11 -10 
		
	
	
		
			  Recruiting target (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 288 297 268 180 273 — — 
			  Actual (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 230 264 254 177 278 — — 
			  +/- (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— -58 -33 -14 -3 5 — — 
		
	
	The recruitment target figures for 2010-11 are artificially low due to a nine-month pause in infantry training. This affected regiments differently depending on where their training slots were on the Infantry Training Centre programme during that year.
	The following table shows the manning levels of specified battalions, complete with establishment and strength as at April of each year.
	
		
			   2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Average +/- % of strength Average +/- % of establishment 
			 2nd Btn Royal Regt Fusiliers Establishment 526 526 526 534 534 533 536 536 533 532 — — 
			  Strength 451 496 490 439 452 435 437 519 514 523 — — 
			  +/- -75 -30 -36 -95 -82 -98 -99 -17 -19 -9 -12 -10 
			               
			 2nd Btn Yorkshire Regt Establishment 526 526 526 534 534 535 533 533 532 532 — — 
			  Strength 464 479 488 474 438 423 420 415 451 487 — — 
			  +/- -62 -47 -38 -60 -96 -112 -113 -118 -81 -45 -17 -14 
			               
			 3rd Btn Mercian Regt Establishment 545 545 586 608 608 576 576 605 605 604 — — 
			  Strength 516 538 527 458 470 501 511 555 560 507 — — 
			  +/- -29 -7 -59 -150 -138 -75 -65 -50 -45 -97 -14 -12 
			               
			 2nd Btn Royal Welsh Establishment 586 586 586 608 608 606 605 605 605 575 — — 
			  Strength 563 546 495 561 470 475 536 567 538 529 — — 
			  +/- -23 -40 -91 -47 -138 -131 -69 -38 -67 -46 -13 -11 
			               
			 1 Btn Scots Establishment 527 527 527 534 535 543 540 540 540 535 — — 
			  Strength 422 471 436 403 524 642 459 498 465 517 — — 
			  +/- -105 -56 -91 -131 -11 99 -81 -42 -75 -18 -11 -10 
			               
			 2 Btn Scots Establishment 527 527 527 534 535 535 533 533 533 528 — — 
			  Strength 456 463 466 423 449 459 443 451 494 448 — — 
			  +/- -71 -64 -61 -111 -86 -76 -90 -82 -39 -80 -16 -14 
			               
			 3 Btn Scots Establishment 590 571 571 534 538 538 608 543 537 537 — — 
			  Strength 519 524 533 516 497 465 537 447 430 520 — — 
			  +/- -71 -47 -38 -18 -41 -73 -71 -96 -107 -17 -12 -10 
			               
			 4 Btn Scots Establishment 530 590 590 608 612 612 604 608 608 608 — — 
			  Strength 430 509 500 508 544 500 434 446 461 460 — — 
			  +/- -100 -81 -90 -100 -68 -112 -170 -162 -147 -148 -24 -19 
			               
		
	
	
		
			 5 Btn Scots Establishment 530 545 544 556 560 560 533 558 557 556 — — 
			  Strength 496 516 451 419 447 452 438 490 526 465 — — 
			  +/- -34 -29 -93 -137 -113 -108 -95 -68 -31 -91 -17 -14 
		
	
	Recruiting performance over the last 10 years was just one of a number of criteria used to determine which Infantry battalions would be withdrawn under Army 2020. Maintaining an appropriate and effective structure to deliver military outputs has been the major driver of the reconfiguration. The Army has also considered demographic trends over the next 10 years in each region to model future recruitment expectations. Regional and national affiliations, the merger and disbandment history of individual battalions and existing commitments of battalions to future operations was also taken into account with a requirement that no regiment should lose more than one battalion. The overriding objective has been to arrive at a solution that those currently serving in the Army will see as fair and equitable.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of US Congressional reports suggesting the cancellation of the F-35B variant; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such reports on his plans to purchase that aircraft type.

Peter Luff: The US Government is currently reviewing all its defence spending plans for the next decade. Our assessment is that the F35-B variant will not be cancelled and that the US is committed to all three variants of the F35, and this was confirmed most recently by the US Secretary for Defence, Leon Panetta, when he met the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), in the US. The UK remains committed to the F35-B programme.

Public Expenditure

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on (a) his private office and (b) staff costs of each Minister in his Department under each category of expenditure in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse was of (a) the private office and (b) staff of each Minister in his Department in the last 12 months.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 2 July 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 January 2012, Official Report, column 825W, to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones).
	The estimated cost of six staff employed in ministerial private offices in financial year 2011-12 is £1.66 million, this is a mixture of civilian and military staff. This figure does not include costs for some support staffs which are provided from other teams.
	The Ministry of Defence employs two speechwriters who work for Ministers. The estimated cost of the staff is £120,000 per annum.

Public Expenditure

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects his Department to underspend its budget for 2012-13; and what estimate he has made of any such underspend.

Philip Hammond: The Office of Budget Responsibility forecasts underspends in departmental expenditure limits as part of its Economic and Fiscal Outlook in the autumn.
	As part of the transparency agenda, the Government publishes the full detail of plans and outturn for all Departments after the end of the financial year, usually in September. HM Treasury publish outturn data for all Departments which is available on the Treasury website on a quarterly basis. Forecasts for 2012-13 outturn by Department will be published at the time of the 2013 budget.

Aggregates Levy

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered (a) reinstating the Aggregate Levy Credit Scheme in Northern Ireland and (b) expanding the scheme to other nations within the UK.

Chloe Smith: The Government remains fully committed to reinstating an Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme in Northern Ireland. Following the European General Court ruling of 2010 which annulled state aid approval for the scheme that ran between 2004 and 2010, the Commission opened a formal investigation in order to take a new decision on whether the scheme was an approvable state aid. Officials are working closely with the authorities in Northern Ireland and representatives of the quarrying industry to provide the Commission with the evidence they have requested.
	The Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme was developed in response to the specific economic and market circumstances in Northern Ireland. The Government has no plans to extend such a scheme to other nations in the UK. The UK Government has, however, committed to devolve the Aggregates Levy to the Scottish Parliament when the outstanding legal proceedings have been fully resolved.

Banks

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to maintain confidence in the banking system.

Mark Hoban: The Government believes that tougher, smarter and more effective financial regulation is needed to maintain confidence in the banking system. The Government's Financial Services Bill will abolish the FSA and establish a new system of specialised and focused financial services regulators. These reforms will ensure that financial firms are responsibly managed and regulated. The greater stability and resilience of the financial services industry will not only benefit the sector itself, but also the wider economy. The reforms will also ensure that the conduct of firms, and with it the interests of consumers and participants in our financial markets, are placed at the heart of the regulatory system and given the priority they deserve.
	The Government is also implementing the recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking. The reforms will ensure that British banks will be more resilient, stable and competitive. The Government published its White Paper detailing its proposals on 14 June 2012, and has committed to have all legislation in place by the end of this Parliament.
	The Government has established an Independent Review into the structure and governance of LIBOR and the corresponding criminal sanctions regime. This is being headed by Martin Wheatley (CEO designate of the Financial Conduct Authority) and will report by the end of summer. Any necessary legislative changes will be considered for inclusion in the Financial Services Bill currently before Parliament or the proposed Banking Reform Bill.
	The Government also recognises that there are more in-depth issues to be tackled, including the culture and professional standards in the banking system. This will be within the remit of the Commission on Banking Standards, comprising representatives from both the Commons and the Lords, and established by a Joint Resolution of both Houses.
	The Commission has the power to interview witnesses under oath, including the Members of both Houses, and send for necessary people and papers. The Commission shall report, no later than 18 December 2012, on recommendations for legislative changes, which can be included in the Banking Reform Bill next year, and on other matters as soon as possible thereafter. It is essential that swift action is taken to fix the problems within the banking sector, rather than delaying solutions to the detriment of the public.

Banks: Regulation

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward implementation of the (a) ring-fencing of retail banks and (b) recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking.

Mark Hoban: The timeline for implementing the recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) is detailed in the White Paper published 14 June 2012. The Government has committed to have all primary and secondary legislation in place by the end of this Parliament and, as the ICB recommended, banks will be expected to have implemented reforms by 2019.

Banks: Standards

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the his contribution of 5 July 2012, Official Report, column 1128, on professional standards in the banking industry, what questions he considers remain unanswered.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 13 July 2012
	The Government considers that there are many questions which remain unanswered, including those regarding the culture and professional standards in the banking system. This will be within the remit of the Commission on Banking Standards, comprising representatives from both the Commons and the Lords, and established by a Joint Resolution of both Houses.
	The Commission has the power to interview witnesses under oath, including the Members of both Houses, and send for necessary people and papers. The Commission shall report, no later than 18 December 2012, on recommendations for legislative changes, which can be included in the Banking Reform Bill next year, and on other matters as soon as possible thereafter. It is essential that swift action is taken to fix the problems within the banking sector, rather than delaying solutions to the detriment of the public.

Fiscal Policy

Peter Hain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of fiscal tightening through any change in the general government cyclically-adjusted primary balance as a proportion of potential gross domestic product; and what comparative assessment he has made of (a) such domestic fiscal tightening and (b) such fiscal tightening in the European Union.

Chloe Smith: The Government do not estimate the general government cyclically-adjusted primary balance, nor do the independent Office for Budget Responsibility forecast this measure of the deficit. Instead, the Government's fiscal mandate focuses on the cyclically-adjusted current balance, which excludes capital spending to protect the most productive public investment expenditure.
	The IMF and the European Commission forecast this measure of the deficit with latest forecasts available in the April Fiscal Monitor available here:
	http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fm/2012/01/fmindex.htm
	and European Economic Forecast—Spring 2012 available here:
	http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/european_economy/2012/ee1upd_en.htm
	The IMF forecast shows that the general government cyclically-adjusted primary balance is forecast to improve from a peak deficit of 7.3% of GDP in 2009 to balance in 2014, subsequently reaching a surplus of 2.1% of GDP by 2017. In comparison, they forecast the Euro Area's average deficit on this measure to peak at 2.2% of GDP in 2010, highlighting the scale of the fiscal challenge the UK faces. The Euro Area is expected by the IMF to reach a surplus of 2.1% of GDP in 2017.
	The European Commission forecast the UK's general government cyclically-adjusted primary balance to have improved by 6.0 percentage points in 2013 from a peak deficit of 7.6% of GDP in 2009. The European Union average balance is forecast to have improved by 3.4 percentage points over the same period.

Import Duties: Israel

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions he has imposed EU import duties on Israeli goods entering the UK from Jewish settlements on the West Bank considered illegal under international law in each year since the introduction of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

David Gauke: The number of incorrect origin declarations for goods imported under the EU-Israel Agreement for each year since it was introduced is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2005 128 
			 2006 127 
			 2007 214 
			 2008 20 
			 2009 26 
			 2010 73 
			 2011 90 
			 2012 (1)14 
			 (1) To date.

Pensions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent a pension company is able to invest the money they receive rather than holding it.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	When investing a scheme's assets, legislation requires pension scheme trustees to do so in the best interests of its members and beneficiaries, ensuring appropriate diversification in their investment strategy. They must also exercise their investment powers in a manner calculated to ensure the security, quality, liquidity and profitability of the scheme's investment portfolio as a whole. These requirements mean that they are not be able to inappropriately hold onto pension contributions without investing them.
	For contract based pension schemes, the pension provider will invest the contributions either in a fund selected by a member or in the default option where the member does not make a choice. The Financial Services Authority's Conduct of Business Sourcebook sets out the types of assets which can be used for contract based pension and non-pension investments within funds which customers invest in. It also sets the requirements for the conduct of firms in relation to their customers.

Pensions: Fees and Charges

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will investigate reports of people being obliged to pay for financial advice from their pension provider;
	(2)  if he will investigate reports of pension providers varying their level of investment management charges frequently.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The level of charges levied by pension providers should provide fair value to people saving for their retirement. The introduction of automatic enrolment makes it all the more important that people are enrolled into schemes with transparent, low charges and which provide value for money.
	Research(1) shows that charges have fallen over time and suggests that this trend will continue as NEST's low-cost charging structure will act as a benchmark across the entire pensions industry.
	The Government is determined to ensure that every pound saved provides the maximum value to savers in building the highest possible pension. The Department regularly evaluates the level of charges in the pensions market and will be placing an even stronger emphasis on this as the market continues to respond to the introduction of automatic enrolment.
	(1) Wood, Young, Wintersgill, Crowther (2011) ‘Likely industry responses to the workplace pension reforms’, DWP research report 753:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2011-2012/rrep753.pdf

Press Officers

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its arms length bodies since May 2010.

Chloe Smith: Reimbursable expenses claimed by press officers between 1 May 2010 and 13 March 2012 totalled (a) £8,878 for HM Treasury, (b) nil for its only agency (Debt Management Office) and (c) nil for its arm’s length bodies (Office for Budget Responsibility, United Kingdom Financial Investments and the Asset Protection Agency).
	Revised rules on the payment of expenses for Treasury staff were introduced in July 2010 following a review of expenses which began in January 2010. The revisions impacted upon most areas of spending including the removal of the options for first class travel, the use of taxis in London (except in exceptional circumstances) and the prohibition of refreshments at staff meetings.

VAT

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider returning the rate of VAT to 17.5 per cent; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The Government has no plans to do so.
	Reducing VAT to 17.5% would cost over £10 billion a year. Doing so would substantially erode our fiscal credibility, and if credibility is lost and interest rates rise, the impact on the fiscal position would be severe. We would expect this to have a negative effect on the UK economy.

VAT: Caravans

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider not proceeding with his proposed five per cent VAT rate on static caravans.

David Gauke: The Budget measure to increase the rate of VAT on static holiday caravans was consulted on, modified, and debated extensively in the House before being agreed. The Government intends to proceed on that basis.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of proposals to increase the small claims limit for personal injury in terms of (a) tax revenue from law firms, (b) tax revenue from claimants and (c) VAT revenue and loss to the Exchequer.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	On 2 May 2012, I announced that the Government will consult on whether to amend the small claims threshold for damages for personal injury claims. The consultation document and its related impact assessments will be published shortly and will be available to download from both the Ministry of Justice and Citizen Space websites.
	No decisions will be taken on the way forward in this area until all responses to the consultation document and other stakeholder submissions have been considered.
	Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and HM Treasury officials have been working closely together to develop the consultation proposals and accompanying impact assessments. The latter will consider the effect of the proposals on all impacted groups, including law firms and claimants. The Government welcomes contributions and evidence from all stakeholders on the potential impacts of these proposals on all affected groups.

Electoral Register: Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2012, Official Report, columns 923-4W, on electoral register: fraud, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the two convictions for electoral fraud between 2008 to 2011 on public perception of electoral fraud.

Mark Harper: The Government has not made an assessment of the effect of any individual convictions for electoral malpractice including those mentioned on wider public perceptions of electoral fraud. The Electoral Commission monitors and reports on levels of allegations of malpractice and the wider public perceptions of electoral fraud.
	The Government is speeding up the implementation of Individual Electoral Registration through the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill to strengthen the security of the system and reinforce public confidence in elections.

Youth Services

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to reform youth services to meet the needs of local communities.

Tim Loughton: “Positive for Youth” set out, for the first time, an overarching vision for youth policy. One of the key principles of its vision is for local leadership and greater partnership in the delivery of services for young people. Local authorities are best placed to decide how best to shape their services—their duty to secure sufficient services is outlined in revised statutory guidance, which we issued in June. This Government has also invested an additional £141 million in a network of 63 Myplace youth centres to support local youth service provision.

Children in Care

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve the responsiveness of the children's care home inspection system and (b) enable local authorities to raise concerns on safeguarding.

Tim Loughton: Ofsted's new framework for the inspection of children's homes, which was introduced in April 2011, focuses more strongly on whether a home has taken action to implement recommendations in previous reports, and whether improvements are flowing through as a consequence. Precise details of the improvements to the new inspection framework have been provided by Ofsted in reply to part (a) of this question. Their response has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Local authorities must take action where they suspect that a looked after child is not being safeguarded in their current placement. The actions that they can take include initiating enquiries under section 47 of the 1989 Children Act, and convening a review of the plan for the child's care, chaired by the child's Independent Reviewing Officer. The purpose of a review in this context would be to consider whether or not the care provided to the child by their placement continues to be effective in keeping them safe.
	On 3 July 2012, Official Report, columns 45-47WS, in response to concerns identified in reports by the Joint All Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry into Children who Go Missing from Care and the report by the Office of the Children's Commissioner on the emerging findings of their inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups, I made a written ministerial statement to Parliament setting out urgent action to improve the care and protection provided by children's homes.
	As a matter of priority, we intend to ensure that young people who are placed in children's homes are properly protected and safely located by removing barriers in regulation so that Ofsted can share information about the location of children's homes with the police, and other relevant bodies. The Department has also established a task and finish group to report in September on placement planning and out of area placements so that children who are placed in children's homes are more effectively protected, particularly when they are placed outside their local area. This work is taking place in conjunction with an expert working group examining the quality of children's homes which is due to report in December. This group will consider a wide range of issues including the location of homes, commissioning practice and the knowledge and skills required by children's home staff.
	Letter from John Goldup, dated 13 June 2012
	Your recent Parliamentary Question has been passed to me, as Deputy Chief Inspector, to respond to part (a).
	Ofsted believes that its responsibility for the inspection of children’s homes is one of the most important that it carries. With this in mind, Ofsted introduced a wholly new framework for the inspection of children's homes in April 2011. This framework shifted the emphasis away from the monitoring of compliance with processes and procedures to a much clearer focus on the quality of care, the safety of children and young people, the difference the home makes to their lives, and the quality of leadership, and management. Inspectors spend the bulk of their time observing the quality of daily care, and talking with children and young people.
	Having reviewed the first year of the new inspection framework, Ofsted introduced a significantly revised set of the criteria against which inspectors make their judgements in April 2012, with the explicit intention of raising the bar. Data on inspection outcomes for the first quarter of the year will be published in September.
	In response to recent public concern about children who go missing from children’s homes, we have further strengthened our guidance to inspectors to ensure that they are absolutely clear about the action they must take when they identify this as an issue in a home being inspected. They must undertake a detailed examination of the care plans and actions in place in relation to children identified as at risk; ensure appropriate contact with the placing local authority and with the police; and scrutinise the level of staff training. The effectiveness of the action taken to prevent children going missing, and to respond if they do, is a key consideration in the overall judgement on the home.
	On 11 July this year Ofsted published for consultation our proposals for the inspection of services for children in care at local authority level. We have placed significant emphasis in these proposals on an evaluation of the care which local authorities take in their placement decisions, and on the robustness with which they discharge their responsibilities for children placed outside of their area.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Children: Day Care

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to provide free childcare for all children.

Sarah Teather: Since September 2011, all three and four-year-olds are entitled to 570 hours of free early education a year. From September 2013, we will extend free early education to around 130,000 two-year-olds, and then to a further 130,000 children from September 2014. The places will be targeted primarily on disadvantaged children, who the evidence suggests will benefit most.

Email

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the cost to publish all the emails sent by his special adviser, Dominic Cummings.

Tim Loughton: The Department estimates that the costs of locating and publishing the emails would exceed £850.

Further Education: Standards

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2012, Official Report, column 376W, on students: statistics, when he expects to introduce comparable measures of performance for all 16 to 19 providers of education to ensure that comparisons are made on the right basis by Ofsted, parents and students.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 13 July 2012
	We are considering carefully the performance measures we should use to compare 16 to 19 providers of education. Interim changes to the key stage 5 performance tables have been announced in the 2012 Statement of Intent published at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/
	Further interim arrangements for standards and intervention should follow in the autumn term, together with a timetable for introducing longer term changes to enable comparability between institutions.

GCE A-level

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps his Department plans to take to encourage more pupils to take (a) mathematics and (b) science subjects at A level;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to encourage school students to study sciences at university.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed to increasing the take-up of mathematics and science at A level and university. The main way to achieve this is to improve the quality of teaching in these subjects. We have allocated up to £135 million over the current spending review period to support better science and mathematics education in schools.
	We have announced plans to recruit more specialist science and mathematics teachers by offering bursaries of up to £20,000 for the best graduates. We are also funding subject knowledge enhancement courses that give specialist subject knowledge in science and mathematics to teachers, and those training to be teachers, who do not have a specialist qualification in these subjects. We are improving the quality of mathematics and science teaching by funding access to professional development for science and mathematics teachers through the network of science learning centres and the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.
	The Triple Science Support programme supports schools to offer three separate science GCSEs. Students who take three science GCSEs are more likely to study science subjects at A level and do well in them. The Stimulating Physics Network and the Further Mathematics Support programme also provide support to schools and colleges with the specific aim of increasing take-up of physics and further mathematics at A level. Both physics and further mathematics, which have relatively low take-up compared to other science and mathematics A levels, have seen increases in recent years.
	The new specialist maths free schools for 16 to 18-year-olds will give strong university mathematics departments and academics the chance to lead in developing and implementing new curricula and teaching methods for mathematics students and prepare them for further study in mathematics and related disciplines, such as science, at university. We also aim to have 24 university technical colleges open by September 2014. These will work in partnership with universities and employers and specialise in demanding technical subjects including science.

Schools: Standards

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of schools in (a) the 10 per cent most deprived areas and (b) the 10 per cent least deprived areas fell below the Government's floor standards in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is provided in the following tables:
	
		
			 Key stage 2: Number and percentage of schools (1)  in the 10% most and least deprived areas (2)  below the floor target (3) 
			   2010 2011 
			 10% most deprived areas Number 189 268 
			  Percentage(4) 21 19 
			 10% least deprived areas Number 14 23 
			  Percentage(4) 2 2 
			 (1) Mainstream maintained schools in the key stage 2 performance tables with greater than 10 pupils in the key stage 2 cohort and performance tables data for all three measures against which the floor standard is assessed (see footnote 3). (2) Based on Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). Each super output area (similar sized groups of households across the country with a minimum population of 1,000) in England is given a score which ranks it between one and 32,482, one being the most deprived. IDACI band is based on the IDACI rank of school postcode. Pupils attending the school may not live in the same area. (3) In 2010 and 2011 the floor standard was: At least 60% of pupils at the end of key stage 2 (KS2) achieving level 4 or above in English and maths; National average or above for percentage of pupils at the end of KS2 making expected progress in English (national median = 87%); and National average or above for percentage of pupils at the end of KS2 making expected progress in maths (national median = 86%). Primary schools failing to reach all three thresholds were assessed as being below the floor standard. (4) Number of schools below the floor target in each area as a percentage of the number of schools assessed against the floor target in each area. Source: Performance Tables. 
		
	
	
		
			 Key stage 4: Number and percentage of schools (1)  in the 10% most and least deprived areas (2)  below the floor target (3) 
			   2010 2011 
			 10% most deprived areas Number 44 27 
			  Percentage(4) 19 11 
			 10% least deprived areas Number 5 2 
			  Percentage(4) 2 1 
			 (1) Mainstream maintained schools in the key stage 4 performance tables with greater than 10 pupils in the key stage 4 cohort and performance tables data for all three measures against which the floor standard is assessed (see footnote 3). (2) Based on Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). Each super output area (similar sized groups of households across the country with a minimum population of 1,000) in England is given a score which ranks it between one and 32,482, one being the most deprived. IDACI band is based on the IDACI rank of school postcode. Pupils attending the school may not live in the same area. (3 )In 2010 and 2011 the floor standard was: At least 35% of pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieving five or more GCSEs A*-C (or equivalents) including English and maths GCSE; National average or above for percentage of pupils at the end of KS4 making expected progress in English (national median = 72% for 2010, 74% for 2011); and National average or above for percentage of pupils at the end of KS4 making expected progress in maths (national median = 65% for 2010, 66% for 2011). Secondary schools failing to reach all three thresholds were assessed as being below the floor standard. (4) Number of schools below the floor target in each area as a percentage of the number of schools assessed against the floor target in each area. Source: Performance Tables.

Teachers: Kent

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers in Kent were (a) dismissed and (b) dismissed due to incompetency in the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: The Operation of disciplinary procedures in schools, including dealing with teacher incompetence, is a matter for schools and local authorities as employers. Accordingly the information requested about the dismissal of teachers is not held centrally.
	The Department for Education has recently published new procedures for schools to use when dealing with underperforming teachers. These new arrangements are shorter and less complex than the current procedure and are due to come into effect in September 2012.

Vocational Education

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the annual VQ Day promoted by the Edge Foundation on the perception of technical, practical and vocational qualifications among (a) teachers, (b) parents, (c) pupils and (d) employers in England.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The Government recognises that the annual VQ Day, promoted by the Edge Foundation, has made a positive contribution to the perception of technical, practical and vocational qualifications amongst teachers, parents, students and employers in England since its launch in 2008. But we know more needs to be done to raise the perception of vocational education in England. We are clear that this will only happen once the quality and value of vocational education rises. That is why the Government commissioned Professor Wolf to conduct a review of the vocational education system.
	The Wolf Review of Vocational Education, published in March 2011, made a series of recommendations to improve vocational education for 14 to 19-year-olds. In May 2012, the Government accepted these recommendations in full. Alongside these reforms, we are considering how employers might be better engaged in the process of improving the quality of vocational provision in the future. This package of reforms is designed to improve the value and quality of vocational education for 14 to 19-year-olds and should in turn raise perceptions of vocational education amongst teachers, parents, students and employers.

Animal Welfare: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce cases of animal cruelty towards domestic dogs and cats in London.

James Paice: The Government takes the issue of animal cruelty very seriously. On 23 April, we announced a package of proposals to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs. The consultation on these proposals closed on 15 June and we are currently analysing the 23,000 or so replies before any decision is made.
	In the meantime, we have provided funding to the Dogs Trust, the RSPCA and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to research what community projects work best to improve more responsible ownership of dogs.
	In 2010 DEFRA introduced codes of practice for the welfare of cats and dogs. The codes explain to owners what measures they need to take to provide for the welfare needs of their cats and dogs.

Biodiversity

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to her Department's publication, A Strategy for England's wildlife and ecosystem services—Biodiversity 2020 Indicators: 2012 Assessment, how many of the 45 indicator measures were given a direction of change assessment for the last year; and which of these indicators were assessed as (a) improving and (b) deteriorating.

Richard Benyon: Statistical assessments of the indicators are made over two time periods: over the long term and since the year 2000. We do not publish statistical assessments of year to year change because not all of the indicators can be updated annually and annual changes can be misleading, particularly for biological data, which may fluctuate markedly from year to year.
	Where annual data are available, the direction of change in the latest year is shown in the publication in the interests of transparency, but we do not attempt to summarise or draw conclusions based on what may be annual fluctuations.
	There were 23 measures for which change in latest year was reported in May 2012; five may be regarded as showing little or no change, eight as showing an improving trend and 10 as showing a deteriorating trend.
	For the 10 regarded as showing deterioration, the explanations are varied.
	For populations of bats, woodland butterflies and large fish, the decline in the latest year is in contrast to the ‘improving’ trend observed since 2000. This may reflect weather events (recent cold winters for example), or simply be a matter of chance and we would not attempt to draw conclusions without further data.
	For indicators on farmland bird and butterfly populations, the latest-year deterioration continues a general downward trend observed over a longer period. We already have plans in place to secure beneficial management through our agri-environment schemes and to further improve the effectiveness and targeting of these schemes.
	Volunteering activity, sustainable land management and expenditure on biodiversity also show overall improvement since 2000 but have declined in the latest year. We are securing beneficial land management through our agri-environment and woodland incentive schemes. On volunteering, we are funding and supporting a range of organisations that provide environmental volunteering opportunities to help them to boost volunteering and capacity. On expenditure, we are reviewing existing funding streams for biodiversity delivery and taking steps to better utilise existing budgets for biodiversity such as the European LIFE Programme and the common agricultural policy.

Biodiversity

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to her Department's publication, A Strategy for England's wildlife and ecosystem services, what steps the Government is planning to take to improve trends in indicators on (a) conservation volunteering and (b) funding for biodiversity.

Richard Benyon: On volunteering, we are working with a number of organisations that provide environmental volunteering opportunities to see how we can best help them to boost volunteering and build their capacity. We have earmarked £200,000 to support this work over the next two financial years.
	DEFRA has also recently convened a meeting between biodiversity organisations and funding bodies to discuss how best to align Biodiversity 2020 objectives with relevant funding streams, and we will be following this up. We are taking steps to further improve our utilisation and effectiveness of existing budgets for biodiversity such as LIFE and the common agricultural policy.

Birds of Prey

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has commissioned on the predation of songbirds in each of the last five years; at what cost; and from whom.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 19 June 2012
	There are two relevant studies that have been commissioned in the last five years.
	The five year Sustainable Arable Farming for an Improved Environment (SAFIE) project reported in June 2007. This was a collaborative project with funding from the Home Grown Cereal Authority (HGCA), DEFRA, English Nature and the Scottish Executive with a total cost to DEFRA of £1.483 million. It was a wide ranging project looking at practical techniques for increasing the biodiversity value of farmed land but it included a limited assessment of the impact of nest predation on three bird species (skylark, yellowhammer and yellow wagtail). The project found that 22% of nest studies were lost to predation by badger, weasel, stoat and brown rat. The final report for the SAFIE project is available on the HGCA website.
	In 2008, DEFRA commissioned the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to produce an evidence based review of the causes of decline in wild birds in England. The cost of this research was £63,015 and the final report is available on the DEFRA website.
	This review found that, in common with many other studies, habitat change was the principal driver of bird declines. The review identified predation as potentially important for a small number of songbirds such as bullfinch or spotted flycatcher.

Floods

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Environment Agency staff were required to travel and stay overnight to deal with the flooding events in June and July 2012; by which means they travelled; and what the cost to the public purse was of this travel.

James Paice: The majority of Environment Agency staff deployed for the six flood events this summer were deployed within their own regions. Using the Environment Agency inter-regional aid arrangements it deployed 32 members of staff. The following table shows how they travelled and covers the period 1 June to 31 July 2012:
	
		
			  Mode of travel Number of staff required to travel Cost of travel (£) 
			 1. Agency vehicles 31 2,046 
			 2. Flight (Exeter to Manchester) (1)1 298 
			 3. Train (2)1 132 
			 (1) Outward journey. (2) Return journey. 
		
	
	The Environment Agency continually review its travel policy to ensure that it reflects value for money, best use of staff time and commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. The current policy came into effect on 1 June 2010. It states that:
	'under normal operating circumstances travel by air will not be permitted for journeys within England and Wales'
	and that
	'all requests for air travel must have a good business justification and will be personally scrutinised and approved'
	by senior managers. To be considered, staff must provide details of alternative travel options, costs and duration. All staff are actively encouraged to consider other means of transport.
	The current travel policy encourages a hierarchy of options for all travel, starting with not travelling at all.

Rural Growth Network

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding arrangements for the Rural Growth Network will be finalised before the end of August.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is currently working with each of the Rural Growth Networks to develop a sufficiently detailed delivery plan that will set out their funding requirements and ultimately provide us with the clearly defined milestones needed. This will give us the basis for drawing up formal funding agreements and we are aiming to have agreed these by August. Ahead of a formal funding agreement being in place and to help the networks develop their delivery plans, each network has been offered an advance of up to £50,000 of development funding (which forms part of the total amount of funding that will be offered).

Scallops

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Marine Management Organisation uses a calendar day or a 24-hour period to assess a day of fishing within the Western Waters Scallop regime.

Richard Benyon: Under the Western Waters scallop regime, the Marine Management Organisation calculate a day as a continuous period of 24 hours or part thereof, during which a fishing vessel is present within ICES Area VII and fishing for scallops, as defined in the UK fishing licence.

Sustainable Development

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government plans to publish departmental sustainable development headline indicators.

James Paice: A new set of sustainable development indicators were published for consultation on 24 July 2012.

Water Charges

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure households are on the best value water tariff.

Richard Benyon: The independent regulator Ofwat regulates prices for water and sewerage services. Every five years Ofwat sets price limits for the water and sewerage companies. This is the amount they are able to charge customers and this process is known as a Price Review. At Price Review, Ofwat sets a five year price cap to which the rate of inflation is added annually.
	The most recent, in 2009, set price limits for 2010-15. Price limits are determined by working out how much revenue each company must collect from its customers to run their businesses efficiently, for example in order to supply the water and build and maintain infrastructure.
	Encouraging innovation and ensuring that companies are more efficient and customer focused were key themes of the Water White Paper, published December 2011. It explained that Government is introducing a package of reforms to increase competition and innovation to drive cost-effective responses to future challenges to limit the future impact on customers' bills. The Water White Paper can be viewed at the DEFRA website.
	Customers are able to choose to be metered according to their volumetric use of water and metering enables water companies to offer more innovative tariffs such as seasonal and rising block tariffs.
	Following the Water White Paper, on 22 June the Government published guidance to enable companies to create social tariffs to reduce the charges of those customers who would otherwise struggle to afford to pay their bills in full. Companies will be able to offer social tariffs from April 2013.

Charities

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice to which registered charities his Department has made payments in the last three years; and what sums over what period have been paid in each case.

Crispin Blunt: The Department makes payments to a large number of organisations, including registered charities, voluntary and community groups. It would incur disproportionate cost to research each organisation, check whether it is a registered charitable organisation or not and disclose what payments were made in the past three years. Payments in the form of grants and contracts are made to organisations that provide a wide range of services, such as the provision of support for victims of crime, mediation services, work to reduce crime and debt advice.
	In 2011-12, the core Department made grant payments totalling £50 million to various organisations. Information about organisations funded through MoJ victim and witness specific funding streams from 2011-14 is available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/transparency-data/victims-witnesses-funding-awards
	In addition to these grants, the Department is providing Victim Support, the principal provider of support for victims and witnesses of crime, with grant funding of £38 million per year until 2014 to invest in long-term service provision focused on those victims and witnesses of the most serious crimes, those who are most vulnerable and those who are persistently targeted.
	The Department also has a £2 million per year contract with The Salvation Army until 2013 to coordinate the provision of support services for victims of human trafficking.

Argentina

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Argentinian Ambassador on the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Jeremy Browne: I invited Ambassador Castro, along with other South American Heads of Mission in London, to a tour of the Olympic Park in May of this year. General discussions on the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic games were held during the tour. Our embassy in Buenos Aires has maintained an active and productive dialogue with the Argentine Olympic Committee over the last 18 months. I congratulate the Argentine athletes on their performance at the Olympic games, and welcome Argentina's Paralympic Team to London.

Bangladesh

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Bangladeshi counterpart on the recent decision to suspend the caretaker government provisions of the Bangladesh constitution.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) raised the importance of credible elections when he met the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina in July. The British Government believes it is a matter for Bangladesh to decide how best to manage its national elections. Whether or not Bangladesh decides to hold these under a caretaker government, a strong, independent Election Commission is essential to ensure that elections are free, fair and peaceful. The UK. along with the rest of the international community, will be following the process leading up to the elections very closely. We urge all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue.

Libya

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Libyan Government on its decision to ban the security company G4S from the country, where it was due to guard EU officials.

Alistair Burt: Following a request from G4S, the British ambassador to Libya made inquiries of the Libyan Government in order to clarify the position of private security companies (PSCs) in Libya. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed that a licence is required for PSCs to operate in Libya and stated that G4S would not be granted one. The Libyan authorities have since issued an edict (Ministerial Council Decision 248) which appears to prohibit foreign security companies from operating in Libya. We are clarifying the intent and consequences of this decision with the Libyan authorities.

Mali

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the situation in Mali; and what steps his Department is taking to protect UK interests in the region.

Henry Bellingham: The British Government is concerned about the current situation in Mali, particularly in the north, where Islamist groups, including al-Qaeda have consolidated their position. We have longstanding counter-terrorism relationships with countries across North and West Africa as well as with key international partners working to counter the threat from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and ideologically aligned groups.
	We are also concerned about the impact of fighting in Mali on the regional humanitarian crisis. The deterioration in the political and security situation in Mali has directly affected over 442,000 people and exacerbated the chronic food shortages. In response, Britain has now provided £25.4 million in humanitarian aid in total to the Sahel region, including Mali.
	There have been some positive developments in southern Mali. The return of interim President Dioncounda Traore from Paris has enabled the formation of a Government of National Unity, officially announced on 20 August, which incorporates representatives from all sectors of society. Britain, with the international community, is committed to helping the Government of National Unity return Mali to democratic rule, and hold elections, as soon as possible.
	We support the principle of a regional solution to the crisis in Mali. We have assisted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the past and hope to be able to do so again. We are encouraging ECOWAS to provide further detail of their plans, as requested by the UN Security Council (UNSC), before the UNSC can formally endorse ECOWAS action in Mali.
	Although British interests in the Sahel are modest, our ambassador in Bamako—who also covers Niger—is in regular contact with the small expatriate community in Mali, and with the small number of British businesses there, to update them on the changing situation and to advise on any safety precautions that they should take. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also provides regular, detailed updates to our travel advice.

Mozambique

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received recent representations (a) from and (b) on behalf of General Jacinto Veloso about a dispute involving British registered and owned companies in Mozambique.

Henry Bellingham: We have received representations on behalf of General Jacinto Veloso in relation to a dispute involving Pathfinder Minerals, a firm listed on the Alternative Investment Market. We have not received any direct representations from General Veloso. Although British interests in the Sahel are modest, our ambassador in Bamako—who also covers Niger—is in regular contact with the small expatriate community in Mali, and with the small number of British businesses there, to update them on the changing situation and to advise on any safety precautions that they should take. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also provides regular, detailed updates to our Travel Advice.

Palestinians

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has commissioned any independent research into the content of Palestinian Authority TV programming.

Alistair Burt: We have not commissioned any independent research into the content of Palestinian Authority TV programming.
	The British Government opposes the advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence in all circumstances. In response to allegations of anti-Israeli incitement on Palestinian state television, officials from the British consulate general in Jerusalem have raised concerns with the head of the News Department at Palestine TV who stressed that they have strict instructions from the highest Palestinian authorities to prevent the broadcasting of any material that promotes incitement or hatred.

Western Sahara

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms exist for alleged human rights abuses in the non-self governing territory of Western Sahara to be (a) investigated and (b) reported to the UN Security Council.

Alistair Burt: The UK regards the political status of the territory of Western Sahara as undetermined. The UK supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy for Western Sahara, ambassador Christopher Ross, to encourage the parties to reach a mutually-acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
	Following UNSCR 1979, the Moroccan National Human Rights Council opened regional offices in Laayoune and Dakhla in Western Sahara. Its mandate includes the investigation of allegations of human rights abuses.
	Recent UN Security Council Resolutions on Western Sahara have welcomed Morocco's commitment to ensure unqualified and unimpeded access for the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council to Western Sahara. In September 2011 the UN Special Rapporteur for Cultural Rights visited the territory and we hope that Morocco will similarly cooperate with any requests for visits by other Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. The UN Secretary-General's annual report to the Security Council on the situation in Western Sahara contains a section on human rights.
	The British Government continues to believe that transparency in the field of human rights is vital to building confidence between the parties. We regularly raise the importance of full respect for human rights with both parties.

Asthma

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on occupational asthma.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The Department for Work and Pensions has not commissioned any research on occupational asthma.
	(b) Evaluation of the evidence base on occupational asthma is regularly carried out by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC). IIAC is a scientific advisory body whose statutory duty is confined to giving independent advice to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Industrial Injuries scheme. It reported on respiratory health including asthma in fire fighters in 2010. It recommended occupational asthma due to exposure to latex in health care workers be added to the list of prescribed diseases in 2003. The last full review of prescribed disease D7 (occupational asthma) was carried out in 1990; several sensitising substances were added to the list of prescribed diseases along with a new 'open' category for any other sensitising agent. The evidence is detailed and reviewed in IIAC's reports: 'Occupational Health in Fire fighters', 'Conditions due to Biological Agents' Cm 5997 and 'Occupational Asthma' Cm 1244. IIAC regularly monitors emerging research.

Atos Healthcare

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 29 February 2012, Official Report, columns 390-1W, on Atos Healthcare: Scotland, how many training sessions the mental health champions based in Edinburgh and Glasgow have conducted for staff in Atos assessment centres without champions based with them.

Chris Grayling: All health care professionals working for Atos receive ongoing training through the DWP agreed continuing medical education programme. The role of the Mental Function Champion is to provide relevant advice and support to health care professionals about the assessment of people with mental health conditions. Mental Function Champions based in Glasgow and Edinburgh regularly attend other main centres and provide advice to health care professionals in other Scottish centres. Records are not held to confirm the actual number of visits or advice calls.

Bakeries

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training is given to health and safety inspectors on conducting workplace inspections in bakeries.

Chris Grayling: Training for HSE inspectors to carry out inspections in a wide range of workplaces including bakeries is an integral part of HSE's early years training programme. This modular programme involves practical experience of field work and classroom based learning leading to a Post Graduate Diploma in Regulatory Health and Safety.
	Operational guidance material providing further information on the application of the law, and industry standards, is available to HSE inspectors. There is specific and publicly available guidance applicable to bakeries and this is used by inspectors to underpin their regulatory decision making and ensures that inspectors regulate health and safety at work effectively and consistently.

Children: Maintenance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to amend the 12 month rule relating to the use of minutes of agreement in relation to child support.

Maria Miller: We are investigating the impact of the 12 month rule as a result of concerns raised about its effects. With regards to the interaction of the child maintenance system with maintenance arrangements in Scotland, regulated by minutes of agreement, we have received representations recently and we are working with the legal community, the Scottish Government, and The Ministry of Justice to explore this issue further.

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals making a third application for a Social Fund crisis loan within a 12-month period were required to attend a face-to-face interview at a job centre in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The total number of individuals required to attend a face-to-face interview when applying for third social fund crisis loan within a 12 month period is outlined in the following table.
	This requirement was suspended with effect from 16 January 2012, and abolished from 8 May 2012.
	
		
			 Total number of individuals required to attend a face-to-face interview for a third application for a social fund crisis loan (July 2011-January 2012) 
			  Interviews required 
			 July 2011 34,323 
			 August 2011 30,942 
			 September 2011 38,472 
			 October 2011 27,930 
			 November 2011 24,987 
		
	
	
		
			 December 2011 25,331 
			 January 2011 7,092 
			 Source: Labour Market System

Employment and Support Allowance

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints his Department has received about employment and support allowance in each month of the last two years.

Chris Grayling: The monthly number of level 1 and 2 complaints received by the Department relating to employment and support allowance in the last two years is detailed as follows. Please note these are national figures only.
	
		
			  Number 
			 2010-11  
			 April 598 
			 May 464 
			 June 545 
			 July 575 
			 August 503 
			 September 456 
			 October 452 
			 November 350 
			 December 165 
			 January 230 
			 February 238 
			 March 246 
			 Total for 2010-11 4,822 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12  
			 April 172 
			 May 242 
			 June 275 
			 July 277 
			 August 283 
			 September 250 
			 October 264 
			 November 310 
			 December 275 
			 January 325 
			 February 455 
			 March 479 
			 Total for 2011-12 3,607 
			 Note: Due to differing methods of recording customer complaints, Scotland (Work Services Directorate) is not included in these figures from July 2010. Benefit Centre Directorate sites are not included after November 2010. 
		
	
	The data in the table includes the following categories:
	Level 1—feedback received at first point of contact
	Level 2—feedback received direct by the district manager, delegated customer contact from Ministers and other Government Departments, or feedback not resolved at level 1.
	Data is collected with level 1 and 2 combined.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the job outcomes for (a) all people and (b) people with mental health problems declared Fit for Work by the employment and support allowance application process.

Chris Grayling: It is difficult to determine subsequent destinations of employment support allowance (ESA) claimants from administrative data. Claimants leaving ESA are not required to inform the Department of their destinations and hence the information that is collected on destinations, or reasons for leaving, is incomplete and not robust enough for publication.
	However, the Department published research on a sample of ESA customers who reported that they had left ESA (whether because they were found fit for work, had their claim closed by Jobcentre Plus, or withdrew their claim before receiving a decision) and asked about the main thing they did, immediately after their claim ended. The report can be found at the following link:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2011-2012/rrep745.pdf
	Section 4 shows that of all those who left ESA having been found fit for work 28% said they had moved into work (48% claimed another benefit and another 25% had other destinations; totals may not add due to rounding).
	For a subset of ESA leavers the research did look into whether they were claiming JSA or not at the second wave of the journey by the main health condition. The majority of ESA leavers with mental health conditions (88 out of 100 ESA leavers that were included in the subset) did not claim JSA (see section 4.5 of the research report mentioned above). This research, however, does not cover other destinations.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of mental function champions on the assessment process for the work capability assessment; and what plans he has for future evaluation of their effect.

Chris Grayling: There has been no formal evaluation of the introduction of Mental Function Champions but routine monitoring of quality and customer satisfaction takes place as part of the contractual arrangements between DWP and Atos Healthcare. In addition, Professor Harrington's second review noted that the role is being well-utilised and that health care professionals have welcomed the advice and support. DWP is continuing to work with Atos Healthcare to build on the Mental Function Champion role and is looking at how their knowledge and expertise can be shared with decision makers to further improve the quality of decisions on cases involving mental, intellectual and cognitive conditions.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what means his Department arrived at its forecast of the indicative claimant volumes for the 18 to 24 jobseeker's allowance group on the Work programme.

Chris Grayling: The Office of Budget Responsibility produces an independent aggregate claimant count projection that is the basis of the Department's forecasting of jobseeker's allowance. The Department produces inflow and off-flow projections consistent with this overall projection, including splits into over and under 25 age groups, using assumptions based on trends in historical data.
	Indicative claimant volumes attaching to the Work programme from the jobseeker's allowance (JSA) 18 to 24 group are profiled by applying an assumption about the rate of attachment of eligible claimants to the Department's forecast volumes of JSA 18 to 24-year-olds that reach the nine-month threshold stage of their claims.

Jobcentre Plus

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department issues to Jobcentre Plus offices on their (a) stock, (b) display and (c) use of public information leaflets.

Chris Grayling: DWP has maintained comprehensive guidelines on stock, display and use of public information leaflets in Jobcentre Plus (JCP) offices since 2006. Compliance with the guidance is the responsibility of JCP managers on site, supported by the District External Relations team, and is ratified as part of JCP management checks.
	The aims of the guidance are to:
	support staff ensuring the standards are put into practice;
	ensure customer information is accurate;
	ensure our customers and staff find our jobcentres clean, modern, informative, professional and helpful; and
	support consistency of approach in promoting the brand and corporate identity.
	The guidance is available to JCP staff via DWP online intranet systems in offices and covers:
	1. A list of DWP customer information leaflets, posters and contact materials that JCP offices are required to have in stock and displayed at all times. This list is kept under review to ensure that we maintain a small, focused suite of products that give customers the right information at the right time.
	2. A list of other DWP leaflets that JCP offices are required to have in stock, but not displayed. This includes some titles for The Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service. On occasions JCP may agree to stock other leaflets centrally.
	3. Recommended stock levels. JCP offices should hold a maximum of six weeks stock to ensure information is always up to date and minimise wastage costs.
	JCP staff are also able to order specific leaflets for customers directly from DWP fulfilment suppliers.

Nuclear Power Stations

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints his Department has received in relation to safety at each of the UK's nuclear power stations in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 to date.

Chris Grayling: The Office for Nuclear Regulation handles Complaints about safety at the UK's nuclear power stations. The number of complaints received by ONR from external sources about safety at each of the UK's nuclear power stations in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 to date are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of complaints 
			 2010 0 
			 2011 0 
			 2012 (1)1 
			 (1) Relating to two sites.

Pensioners

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the pensioner prices index was in each year since 1997.

Steve Webb: The Pensioner Prices Index for each year since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  Index (January 1987 = 100) Change (percentage) 
			 1997 145.4 1.0 
			 1998 147.4 1.4 
			 1999 149.6 1.5 
			 2000 150.8 0.8 
			 2001 152.7 1.3 
			 2002 155.3 1.7 
			 2003 158.1 1.8 
			 2004 160.9 1.8 
			 2005 165.1 2.6 
			 2006 172.5 4.5 
			 2007 178.2 3.3 
			 2008 189.8 6.5 
			 2009 196.8 3.7 
			 2010 204.6 4.0 
			 2011 218.1 6.6 
			 Source: Office for National Statistics, RPI One-person pensioner households index—All Items.

Pensioners

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of pensioners had a net annual income of (a) up to £5,200, (b) £5,200 to £10,400, (c) £10,400 to £20,800, (d) £20,800 to £40,000, (e) £40,000 to £80,000 and (f) over £80,000 in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK in the latest year for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: Estimates on pensioner incomes are published annually in the Pensioners' Incomes Series available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=pensioners_income_arc#PI_Latest
	The latest year of data which is available is for 2010-11. For the table, three years of data (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11) have been combined as single-year estimates for Scotland are subject to volatility.
	Table 1 shows the proportion of pensioners in each income band for Scotland and the UK, both before and after housing costs.
	
		
			 Table 1: Proportion (percentage) of pensioners in each income band in Scotland and the UK, before and after housing costs 
			  Before housing costs After housing costs 
			 Income band Scotland United Kingdom Scotland United Kingdom 
			 (a) up to £5,200 2 3 4 6 
			 (b) £5,200 to £10,400 22 20 29 27 
			 (c) £10,400 to £20,800 51 48 44 41 
		
	
	
		
			 (d) £20,800 to £40,000 21 22 19 20 
			 (e) £40,000 to £80,000 3 5 3 4 
			 (f) over £80,000 2 2 2 2 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Pensioners' Incomes (PI) Series data sourced from the 2010-11 Family Resources Survey (FRS). 2. The Pensioners' Incomes Series analysis is for pensioner units, which are defined as either single pensioners (people over state pension age) or pensioner couples (married or cohabiting pensioners where one or more are over state pension age). 3. Prior to 6 April 2010, women reached the state pension age at 60. From 6 April 2010, the qualifying age for women has been gradually increasing. The changes do not affect the state pension age for men, currently 65. 4. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 5. Figures have been presented on a before housing costs and an after housing costs basis. For before housing costs, housing costs are not deducted from income, while for after housing costs they are. 6. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 7. The reference period for PI figures is the financial year. 8. Proportions of pensioners have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. 9. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 10. Three survey years (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11) have been combined because single year estimates are not considered to be sufficiently reliable. Single year estimates are possible for the United Kingdom; however three-year averages have been supplied so the estimates for Scotland and the United Kingdom are comparable. 11. The preferred income measure for pensioners is after housing costs. Around three quarters of pensioners own their own homes and so have to pay out minimal housing costs from their disposable income compared to the current working age population who typically have to cover mortgage or rental housing costs. Considering pensioners’ incomes compared to others after deducting housing costs allows for more meaningful comparisons of income between working age people and pensioners, and between pensioners overtime.

Personal Independence Payment

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  on what basis the assumption was made in the case studies provided by his Department in the personal independence payment consultation that blind people would face lower mobility and daily living costs after they have lived with sight loss for longer;
	(2)  for what reason support dogs were included in the mobility component of the personal independence payment criteria but orientation aids were not.

Maria Miller: The Government believes that support in personal independence payment should be targeted at those people who are most affected by their impairments. The proposed assessment criteria for personal independence payment have not yet been finalised but will focus on an individual’s ability to carry out key everyday activities, considering the support they need from aids and appliances and other people to do so. The greatest priority in the assessment will go to those people who are least able to carry out the activities and need the most support. We believe that such an approach allows us to reflect and differentiate between the barriers and extra costs faced by disabled people.
	No assumption has been made that blind people will automatically face reduced costs or barriers after they have lived with sight loss for a period of time. However, we are aware that many individuals, with a range of different impairments, do adapt to their situations and develop coping strategies that enable them to manage daily activities either unaided or with less support, reducing the barriers and costs they face. The approach taken under personal independence payment will be to assess the needs of the individual not their condition.
	Support dogs were specifically included in the second draft of the assessment criteria as we recognise that individuals who have support dogs face particular barriers and costs.
	The work to develop the assessment criteria is still ongoing. On 30 April we completed a 15-week formal consultation. We received around 1,000 responses to this, including a joint response from the visual impairment sector. We are considering all of these comments very carefully as we evaluate what further improvements need to be made to the assessment. If we need to make more changes to ensure it fairly reflects the needs of individuals, we will do so.
	We intend to publish a response to the consultation alongside a revised draft of the assessment criteria later in the year, once our considerations are complete.

Personal Independence Payment

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to ensure people undergoing reassessment of personal independence payment benefit entitlement are able to appeal against the findings of reassessments carried out by private organisations on behalf of the Government.

Maria Miller: Decisions on entitlement to personal independence payment will be made by decision makers within the Department for Work and Pensions. Their decisions will be based on information from a range of sources, including evidence from the claimant, the health care professionals who work with them and advice from the assessment provider. If a claimant wishes to dispute a decision on benefit entitlement they will be able to ask for a reconsideration of the original decision. Reconsideration will be a mandatory process. If, following a reconsideration of the original decision, the claimant still thinks the decision is incorrect they will be able to appeal to an independent tribunal.

Personal Independence Payment

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from (a) organisations and (b) individuals on the reassessment of personal independence payment benefit entitlement for all those receiving disability living allowance.

Maria Miller: The Department has received a wide range of representations from individuals and organisations, both in meetings and in writing. We have conducted a range of consultations on the detail of personal independence payment, the last two of which closed on 30 April and 30 June respectively. We intend to respond to those consultations later this year.
	In addition to formal consultation my officials and I regularly meet with stakeholders including those organisations who are providing invaluable contributions as members of the Personal Independence Payment Implementation Development Group. Members of the group have written to the Department about reassessment proposals, as have more senior members of their organisations. Their comments will be considered alongside others raised as part of the wider public consultation.
	The introduction of personal independence payment (PIP) is also being supported by a comprehensive programme of user-centred design involving disabled people (including current disability living allowance claimants) and representative organisations.

Personal Independence Payment

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the value of current contracts for health and disability assessment services (a) in Scotland, North East England, North West England and the Isle of Man, (b) in Wales and Central England, (c) in London and South England, (d) in Northern Ireland and (e) nationally.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions re-awarded Atos Origin IT Services Ltd, trading as Atos Healthcare, a new contract to provide Medical Services on behalf of the Department from 1 September 2005. The total cost of these services amounts to approximately £100 million per annum. This figure not only covers the total number of assessments undertaken across all benefits, but also costs relating to written and verbal medical advice, fixed overheads, administrative costs, investment in new technology and other service improvements.
	The above contract covers England, Scotland, Wales but not Northern Ireland which has its own separate contract.
	The DWP pays nothing to Atos Healthcare for the provision of Medical Services in Northern Ireland.
	The overall total cost for the seven year term of the Medical Services Contract between the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency (NISSA) and Atos Healthcare is £82 million.

Personal Independence Payment

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information will be used from existing disability living allowance files when contacting claimants to invite them to apply for personal independence payments.

Maria Miller: Disability living allowance claimants, who are in the age range 16 to 64 when personal independence payment is introduced (8 April 2013), will be contacted between October 2013 and March 2016 about reassessment. The contact letter will explain next steps and what the claimant needs to do if they wish to make a claim to personal independence payment. In order to ensure that the correct people are contacted, we will take the age, name, address and national insurance number of the claimant and any alternative format requirements from the DLA computer system.
	If the DLA computer system holds details of an appointee then this will be the person who will be contacted.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun have had their benefit withdrawn for refusing to work since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: Statistics on how many people in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun have had their benefit withdrawn for refusing to work since May 2010 are only available for jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) claimants, which are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of JSA claimants in (a) Scotland Jobcentre Plus Group (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency who have had a sanction applied for refusing employment: 1 May 2010-31 January 2012 
			 Area Number of JSA claimants 
			 Scotland 7,760 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 130 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Refusal of employment is a varied length sanction 3. Varied Length Sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the Adjudication Officer who makes the decision. 4. Jobcentre Plus Group: Formerly known as Jobcentre Plus Regions. Jobcentre Plus Groups were updated to reflect changes to the hierarchical structure of Jobcentre Plus implemented on 5 April 2011 from 11 regions to seven groups. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database. 
		
	
	Statistics on how many people in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun have had their benefit withdrawn for refusing to work since May 2010 for non JSA claimants are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the suitability of basic bank accounts for the budgeting needs of recipients of universal credit;
	(2)  what financial products have been considered to assist recipients of universal credit to adjust to monthly payments and budgeting;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the likely level of availability of basic bank accounts for recipients of universal credit.

Chris Grayling: We are working with a range of banking and financial product providers to make financial services accessible and supportive to potential universal credit recipients across the income spectrum; particularly to low income households who may have been excluded in the past.
	Basic bank account are very widely available and will support the budgeting needs of many universal credit claimants, as they can receive money from multiple sources, including wages as well as benefits, and have the necessary transactional capabilities necessary for paying rent and household bills by direct debit or standing order.
	We recognise that some claimants will need additional help to adapt successfully to monthly payments. This may take the form of budgeting advice and skills development, but may also include enhanced financial products with additional budgeting functions, such as ‘jam jar’ accounts.

Work Capability Assessment: Recordings

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2012, Official Report, column 930W, on work capability assessment: recordings, what the terms of reference are for the assessment of the effectiveness of and demand for recordings of work capability assessments; and how he plans to assess the success or failure of the arrangements.

Chris Grayling: We are currently monitoring uptake of the service and have asked Atos Healthcare to try and accommodate requests for audio recording where a claimant makes a request in advance of their assessment, this is being monitored on a weekly basis. We are also developing criteria as previously indicated so that we may evaluate the success of this approach which will take into account factors such as value for money and the value it adds to the work capability assessment process.

Charities

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which registered charities her Department has made payments in the last three years; and what sums over what period have been paid in each case.

Norman Baker: I regret that the requested information is not available other than at disproportionate cost as DFT's accounting systems do not indicate which payments are made to registered charities as part of the delivery of the Department's objectives.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the Government Car and Dispatch Agency will lose its agency status.

Michael Penning: The Government Car and Despatch Agency will lose agency status on the 1 October this year.

Official Cars

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what security checks are proposed for (a) drivers and (b) other staff from companies bidding for the contract to provide Ministerial car travel as part of the additional services to the Government Car Service.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport is currently working with the Government Procurement Service to establish a framework contract for the provision of a top up service for the Government Car Service which Departments can then choose to utilise. As part of the procurement process providers have to ensure that all drivers and other staff supporting the contract are vetted to counter terrorism check (CTC) level.

Antisocial Behaviour

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) individual support orders, (b) intervention orders and (c) designated public place orders were issued in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Nottinghamshire and (iii) Ashfield constituency in each of the last five years.

Lynne Featherstone: The figures requested for the last three years were provided in answer to the hon. Member’s previous questions, 114851 and 114785, 5 July 2012, Official Report, columns 777-78W. The figures for the preceding two years, 2007 and 2008, are as follows.
	In 2007, 50 Individual Support Orders (ISOs) were attached to antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued at magistrates courts in England and Wales, none of which were issued in Nottinghamshire. In 2008, 41 ISOs were attached to antisocial behaviour orders issued at magistrates courts in England and Wales, none of which were issued in Nottinghamshire. Centrally held data on ISOs is not collated below police force area level.
	The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) did not collect data on Intervention Orders (IOs) attached to ASBOs until 1 October 2007. No IOs were reported to MOJ as having been issued in England and Wales between 1 October 2007 and 31 December 2007. Two IOs were reported as having been issued in 2008, neither of which was issued in Nottinghamshire.
	133 Designated Public Place Orders (DPPOs) were granted in England and Wales in 2007, including seven in Nottinghamshire and none in Ashfield. 89 DPPOs were granted in England and Wales in 2008, including three in Nottinghamshire and none in Ashfield.

Biometrics

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the use of IRIS scanners; what estimate she has made of the total cost of this technology, including its removal; and if she will make a statement

Damian Green: A decision has been taken to decommission the Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS). IRIS was the first biometrically enabled automated border control system installed in the UK and has now been operating for nearly seven years. IRIS provided significant benefits to our border operation but we are now establishing our longer term business needs for our automated clearance systems. Although IRIS is very secure as a biometric and relatively quick to capture and verify, it is not widely used in travel documentation or within other related services.
	In total, we have spent £4.9 million in capital and by September 2012 will have spent £5.6 million in resource costs on IRIS, which includes all decommissioning costs.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost has been of the e-borders programme to date.

Damian Green: Between 1 April 2007 and 30 June 2012, the e-Borders Programme cost £409 million.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the providers are of the e-borders programme.

Damian Green: The e-Borders Programme has a number of suppliers: Fincore, Fujitsu, IBM and Serco.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to secure a long-term provider or providers for the e-borders programme beyond 2014.

Damian Green: The Border Systems procurement project within e-Borders has been established to acquire a new service provider to take responsibility for the maintenance and future development of the e-Borders applications. The procurement exercise, which will be EU advertised, will be initiated in the autumn.

British Nationals Abroad

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many of the Britons arrested and charged abroad between April 2011 and March 2012 for the rape and sexual abuse of minors under the age of 18 had previously received a foreign travel order;
	(2)  how many of the Britons arrested and charged between April 2011 and March 2012 for the rape and sexual abuse of minors under the age of 18 were on the Violent and Sex Offenders Register at the time the offences took place;
	(3)  how many Britons arrested and charged abroad between April 2011 and March 2012 for the rape and sexual abuse of minors under the age of 18 had previously been reported missing by the UK police.

Lynne Featherstone: The statistical data requested is not held centrally.

Immigration Controls: Heathrow Airport

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of UK Border Force funds allocated for the re-opening of Heathrow Terminal 2 in 2014 has been re-allocated to fund an increase in UK Border Force staff; and if she will assess the potential effects of that reallocation on the resources available when Terminal 2 reopens.

Damian Green: The funds allocated for the reopening of Heathrow Terminal 2 remain in place and have not been reallocated.

Immigration Controls: Heathrow Airport

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons queue targets have not been achieved at London Heathrow Airport following changes to UK Border Force rostering systems.

Damian Green: A number of factors—including rostering—can affect achievement of queue targets. BAA published data (available at BAA.com) has shown that all Heathrow terminals saw a significant improvement in waiting time performance from April to May and that this was sustained in June despite increased passenger volumes.
	A new rostering system was introduced on 3 June.

Immigration Controls: Heathrow Airport

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many secondary detection area staff at London Heathrow Airport are being trained to work at non-European economic area desks (a) for business as usual and (b) prior to the London 2012 Olympics.

Damian Green: There are a number of secondary detection staff at Heathrow who are trained to work at the primary check point. We are unable to provide statistics for the number of staff trained to work at the non EEA desks for business as usual and prior to the London 2012 Olympics as these are not published by the Home Office for border security reasons.

Immigration Controls: St Pancras Station

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what entry checks are conducted on (a) EEA and (b) non-EEA Eurostar passengers on arrival at St Pancras International; and whether checks are conducted on all such passengers.

Damian Green: Border Force staff at St Pancras undertake secondary customs examination as required on all services and perform additional ticket checks on EEA and non EEA passengers from Brussels.
	Full Passport checks are also carried out on all EEA and non-EEA Eurostar passengers on trains arriving from Marne-la-Vallee (Disneyland) and seasonal trains from Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Avignon by staff at St Pancras.
	Full passport checks are carried out on all EEA and non EEA passengers travelling to the UK at the Eurostar stations in Brussels, Paris and Lille by Border Force officers.

Immigration Controls: St Pancras Station

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the target is for (a) European Economic Area and (b) non-European Economic Area Eurostar passengers to clear immigration checks at St Pancras International.

Damian Green: As St Pancras is not the primary immigration check point for the majority of Eurostar passengers, there is no formal service level agreement to clear passengers.
	Full passport checks are carried out on all EEA and non-EEA Eurostar passengers on trains arriving from Marne-la-Vallee (Disneyland) and seasonal trains from Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Avignon by staff at St Pancras.
	Staff at St Pancras adhere to the national queue clearance targets of 25 minutes for EEA and 45 minutes for non EEA passengers.
	Full passport checks are carried out on all EEA and non EEA passengers travelling to the UK at the Eurostar stations in Brussels, Paris and Lille by Border Force officers.

National Crime Agency

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012 to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, Official Report, column 824, on police (administrative burden), what further discussions she has had on the accountability and transparency of the National Crime Agency; and what the outcome was of those discussions.

Nick Herbert: The Government have set out clear arrangements in the Crime and Courts Bill to ensure that the NCA will be fully accountable, open and transparent to Government, Parliament and the public. The Bill sets out that the NCA's Director General must publish an Annual Plan and Annual Report, and provides a new statutory duty that he or she must publish information about the Agency's functions and other matters relating to the Agency. The sorts of information that must be published under the duty will be set out in the NCA Framework Document, which will itself be published and laid before Parliament. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements made on this issue in the Other Place by my noble Friend Lord Henley, Minister of State for crime prevention and antisocial behaviour reduction, on 18 June 2012, Official Report, column 1640. The Framework Document will also set out in more detail the respective roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and Director General, including the arrangements for the NCA's performance reporting and financial accounting.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to ensure that troops deployed to provide security to the London 2012 Olympic Games are not suffering from mental health problems following their return from deployment that could be exacerbated by duty at the Games.

Andrew Robathan: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
	Dedicated military medical facilities have been deployed to provide medical and dental care for armed forces personnel deployed in support of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, and qualified medical staff will provide any necessary treatment and referral.
	Throughout their careers, service personnel are provided with advice on recognising and managing mental health problems, and on the importance of seeking help if they need it. All personnel returning from deployment overseas are provided with a stress brief which aims to highlight normal reactions to traumatic events, gives some helpful strategies to aid readjustment and details other sources of help. Other briefs which deal with risk-taking behaviours and the 'homecoming' experience are also given.
	Any member of the armed forces who is identified as having a mental health problem will be given whatever treatment they need, and if necessary restrictions may be placed on the type of work they can do. No member of the armed forces will be employed on any duties unless they are fit to do so, and personnel who develop a mental health problem following overseas deployment are aware of the steps they should take to obtain treatment. This is available wherever they happen to be working at the time, including assisting with security for the Olympic games.

Yvonne Fletcher

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the Metropolitan Police on progress in Libya to identify the killer of PC Yvonne Fletcher.

Nick Herbert: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has recently updated Home Office Ministers about the ongoing investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. The Government is pleased that the MPS is having discussions with the Libyan authorities about future co-operation in relation to this investigation. Helping the police to take forward this investigation remains a top priority for the Government in its relations with Libya and we will continue to offer the MPS whatever support we can.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress he has made on EU State Aid approval for BDUK spending on rural broadband schemes.

Edward Vaizey: The Government has had extensive discussions with the European Commission regarding the request for approval of an umbrella state aid notification for broadband projects including at senior level. The Department has provided the Commission with all the information that it has requested and it is considering its decision. The Secretary of State believes that recent discussions have resolved outstanding issues and he is optimistic about a positive outcome.

Olympic Games 2012

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date Ticketmaster was appointed as a provider and supplier to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; what process was followed in its appointment; where this was advertised; how many companies applied; how many companies were shortlisted; how each was appraised; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: Procurement of its Ticketing Services Provider is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG); a private company operating independently of Government. LOCOG appointed Ticketmaster in July, 2009 after an open tender.

Olympic Games 2012

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on (i) the role played by and (ii) the number of tickets allocated to (A) Aggreko, (B) Airwave, (C) Atkins, (D) the Boston Consulting Group, (E) CBS Outdoor, (F) Crystal CG, (G) Eurostar, (H) Freshfields, (I) Ruckhaus Deringer LLP, (J) G4S, (K) GlaxoSmithKline, (L) Gymnova, (M) Heathrow Airport, (N) Heineken UK, (O) Holiday Inn, (P) John Lewis, (Q) McCann Worldgroup, (R) Mondo, (S) Nature Valley, (T) Next, (U) Nielsen and (V) Populous; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with (a) Aggreko, (b) Airwave, (c) Atkins, (d) The Boston Consulting Group, (e) CBS Outdoor, (f) Crystal CG, (g) Eurostar, (h) Freshfields, (i) Ruckhaus Deringer LLP, (j) G4S, (k) GlaxoSmithKline, (l) Gymnova, (m) Heathrow Airport, (n) Heineken UK, (o) Holiday Inn, (p) John Lewis, (q) McCann Worldgroup, (r) Mondo, (s) Nature Valley, (t) Next, (u) Nielsen and (v) Populous on the London 2012 Olympic Games; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), a private company operating independently of Government. LOCOG must raise its revenues to stage the games through sponsorship, ticketing, media rights and merchandise. A total of 11 million Olympic and Paralympic tickets are being made available for London's Games, of which 75% are for purchase by the UK public, and 12% for purchase by National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, primarily for international sports fans. The remainder are for purchase by sponsors, stakeholders, international Sports Federations, Prestige Hospitality Providers and Thomas Cook. Sponsors have the right to purchase a small number of tickets, across a range of prices and sports, at face value. Many sponsors have distributed their tickets in promotions to the UK public, their staff, customers and community groups.
	Regular and frequent discussions have been held between LOCOG and this Department in order to ensure the successful delivery of the games. This has included discussions regarding key LOCOG suppliers in relation to the completion of actions and milestones critical to the delivery of the games. The wider relationships between LOCOG and its sponsors, is a matter for LOCOG.

Olympic Games 2012: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to raise participation in events connected with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in (a) Southend and (b) Essex; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy from London 2012. A sustained programme of proactive marketing and communications activities has generated high levels of interest and engagement in London 2012-related activities across Essex.
	This can be seen through 90% of Essex schools (574) being registered for the Get Set network, with 63 from Southend. Also, six Essex schools were selected to form the Guard of Honour, lining the route as the athletes made their way through the Olympic Park. 44 Inspire Mark Projects have been running across the country, from Active Plus Games, focusing on activities for older generations, to the Essex Ambassadors volunteering programme, a 300-strong corps of all ages who provided the welcoming face of Essex at Stansted airport and key locations across the county at Games Time. A wide variety of sports and well-being initiatives—from Urban Games to Mini Games have been introduced and sustained across the county. Essex county council's Olympic and Paralympic art commission, Journey to the Podium, was selected: to be on display in Westminster Hall in August as part of the innovative Arts in Parliament programme.
	Almost half a million people turned out to witness the Olympic Torch making its way across the county, with 80,000 people turning out in Southend, and the 'Sparks will Fly' cultural celebration attracted audiences of 15,000 in Chelmsford. In hosting the Olympic Mountain Bike competition at Hadleigh Farm a range of cycling initiatives has been introduced across the county—from 'Mud Sweat and Gears' for serious cyclists to 'Bicycle Ballet' a performing arts installation, with training hosted at the Hadleigh Old Fire Station, purchased by the county council and its partner Castle Point borough council to provide a community hub in the host borough. In addition, over 300 Compete For Contracts to provide goods and services for the Games were awarded to companies in Essex.,
	As part of the UK's bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games we promised to inspire a new generation to play sport. Through Places, People, Play, £135 million has already been committed to support community sport facilities and activity. Many sports clubs in Essex have already been allocated funding through the 'Inspired Facilities' strand, of this programme. Also, over the next four years the new Youth Sport Strategy will invest at least £1 billion of Lottery and Exchequer funding to help ensure young people across England are regularly taking part in sport.

Public Libraries

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  with reference to his Department's minded to letter of 14 February 2012, when he expects to make the decision on whether to intervene by way of a local inquiry into Brent council's library plans; and how many substantive representations he has received on his Department's minded to decision;
	(2)  whether he plans to intervene in respect of the library plans of (a) Gloucestershire county council, (b) Somerset county council, (c) Isle of Wight council, (d) Lewisham council, (e) Doncaster council, (f) Bolton council and (h) other library authorities.

Edward Vaizey: Since issuing the ‘minded to’ letter of 14 February 2012 to Brent council, the Department has received a formal shared response on behalf of several local Brent groups, and around 60 other items of correspondence from Brent residents. The matter remains under consideration.
	On 3 September 2012 I issued letters to the Isle of Wight council, Lewisham council and Bolton council, setting out that the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is not minded to intervene by way of a local inquiry into their library services.
	Copies of the letters to the local authorities are available on the website of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/libraries/3416.aspx
	and will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Abortion

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2012, Official Report, column 664W, on abortion, how many of the incomplete HSA4 forms did not record the (a) gestational age of the foetus and (b) reason for the abortion.

Anne Milton: The medical practitioner performing the abortion is required to sign form HSA4 and submit details of the termination to chief medical officer. Included in the information is the gestation at which the termination takes place and the grounds on which it is carried out in accordance with the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended).
	The following table shows the total of missing data on the HSA4 form for the years 2007 to 2011 in relation to gestational age and grounds for the termination:
	
		
			 Missing HSA4 data for gestational as at June 2012 
			  Gestation Grounds 
			 2007 0 31 
			 2008 15 22 
			 2009 10 15 
			 2010 11 14 
			 2011 0 18 
			 Totals 36 100 
			 Note: Totals relate to the number of errors not the number of forms.

Anorexia: Children

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce levels of childhood anorexia.

Paul Burstow: Hospital admission rates for anorexia are falling. However, this is one part of a complex picture and there is no room for complacency about this distressing condition. The Department is funding the 'Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies' project, which is transforming child and adolescent mental health services providing training for staff in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence approved best evidence-based therapies and embedding intensive, session by session outcome monitoring to make sure children and young people have improved access to the best possible psychological therapies in a way they find acceptable and relevant.
	In year one 2011-12, the therapies offered were cognitive behavioural therapy and parenting programmes for three to 10-year-olds. In 2012-13 as part of the additional investment of £22 million over the next three years announced in February 2012, the geographical reach of the project will be extended and two further therapies added: systemic family therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy. Together these will help support children, young people and their families and address some of the major mental health problems of adolescence including eating disorders. We are also developing a suite of interactive e-learning programmes to extend the skills and knowledge of all staff working with children and young people, including health professionals, teachers, social workers and others to help them understand and recognise emotional and mental health problems and offer early and effective interventions.
	We also welcome the work of the Government Equalities Office's Body Image campaign, which seeks to raise awareness about body image and ensure that young people have healthier and happier futures regardless of their physical appearance.

Antidepressants

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for anti-depressants were issued (a) in the community and (b) in hospitals in each year since 2001.

Simon Burns: In terms of prescribing in primary care, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 June 2012, Official Report, columns 118-119W.
	Information is not held centrally, for secondary care, in the format requested. The following table provides the volume, by number of packs, for antidepressant medicines, classified by the World Health Organisation's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system, used in secondary care, in England, for each available year since 2001.
	
		
			 Antidepressant medicines used in secondary care, in England, as classified by ATC classification code N06A0 antidepressants and mood stabilisers 
			  Number of packs (thousand) 
			 2001 1,318.2 
			 2002 1,441.8 
			 2003 1,521.7 
			 2004 1,508.5 
			 2005 1,441.6 
			 2006 1,367.0 
			 2007 1,319.8 
			 2008 1,329.2 
			 2009 1,357.5 
			 2010 1,359.7 
			 2011 1,315.7 
			 Source: IMS Health: Hospital Pharmacy Audit

Brain: Injuries

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum's publication entitled, Life after Brain Injury—A Way Forward.

Paul Burstow: The Health and Social Care Act (2012) sets out a range of reforms that will improve outcomes and ensure improved access to services. It will also create more local accountability for services for neurological conditions, including those for people with an acquired brain injury. The Department has made no specific assessment.

Breast Cancer

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that all women with secondary breast cancer have access to a clinical nurse specialist;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of breast cancer patients are offered (a) a written follow-up care plan, (b) a named individual to contact and (c) other personalised information and support in each year for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of secondary breast cancer patients were given access to a clinical nurse specialist in each year for which figures are available;
	(4)  whether data on patients with (a) secondary breast cancer and (b) recurrence of breast cancer will be separately identifiable as part of the 2011-12 National Cancer Patient Experience survey.

Paul Burstow: Information concerning the number of women with secondary breast cancer who are given access to a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and the number and proportion of breast cancer patients who are offered a written follow-up care plan, a named individual to contact and other personalised information and support is not collected.
	However, ‘The National Report of the 2010 Cancer Patient Experience Survey’, published in December 2010, included a series of questions about CNSs, written information and provision of support. The views of over 67,000 cancer patients were included in the survey results, of which 14,264 had breast cancer. Patients with secondary breast cancer are included in this figure, but are not identified.
	Set out in the following table are the responses of patients with breast cancer to questions concerning CNSs, written information and support, presented alongside the results for all cancers.
	
		
			 Questions Breast cancer (%) All cancer (%) 
			 Given the name of a CNS 93 84 
			 Given clear written information given about what to do or not do after leaving hospital (in-patient care) 89 82 
			 Given the right amount of information about condition and treatment 89 88 
			 Hospital staff provided information about support and self-help groups 86 79 
			 Definitely given enough emotional support while being treated as an out-patient 69 71 
		
	
	Datasets for the 2010 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey and the forthcoming 2010-11 survey are based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. C50 covers all malignant neoplasms of the breast, so patients with secondary or recurrent breast cancer cannot be identified separately.
	The National Cancer Survivorship Initiative pilot Patient Reported Outcomes Measures survey of cancer survivors in 2011 asked breast cancer patients how' their cancer responded to treatment. One of the possible responses to this question was ‘My breast cancer has come back after it was originally treated’, so these women will be separately identifiable. Results of the pilot are expected to be published in the autumn.
	We know that cancer patients greatly value the care and support of CNSs. To support the national health service to develop the CNS work force, ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’ sets out our intention to build the evidence base for the benefits and costs savings that CNSs can offer. This follows an independent report we published in December 2010 that showed that, in many scenarios, the costs of additional support roles are likely to be outweighed by the savings that can be achieved.

Breast Cancer

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect access to a multidisciplinary team has on outcomes for women with secondary breast cancer;
	(2)  if he will estimate how many and what proportion of breast cancer patients have had their treatment and care discussed by a multidisciplinary team in each year for which figures are available;
	(3)  what arrangements he has put in place to ensure urgent clinical review of patients with suspected breast cancer recurrence or metastasis

Paul Burstow: Information concerning the number of women with breast cancer who have their care co-ordinated by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) is not collected.
	“Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer”, published by the Department in 1996 and updated by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2002, sets out best practice evidence based guidance on the diagnosis, treatment and aftercare of women with breast cancer, including those with secondary breast cancer. One of its four key recommendations is that women should be treated by an MDT. The guidance is complimented by “Breast cancer (early and locally advanced)” and “Breast cancer (advanced)” published by NICE in 2009, which also make recommendations on the involvement of MDTs on the care of women with breast cancer.
	To support urgent clinical review of patients with suspected breast cancer recurrence or metastasis, both the “Improving Outcomes and Early and Locally Advanced” guidance make recommendations on routine follow-up and monitoring to assess patient health and to check for recurrence. The second specifically recommends that patients treated for breast cancer should have an agreed, written care plan, recorded by a named healthcare professional. A copy of this should be provided to both the patient and their general practitioner. This plan should give the name of a designated healthcare professional(s); dates for review of any adjuvant therapy; details of surveillance mammography; signs and symptoms to look for and seek advice on; contact details for immediate referral to specialist care; and contact details for support services.

Cancer

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the availability of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-approved treatments for (a) lung, (b) bowel and (c) breast cancer in Surrey Primary Care Trust;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of variations in access to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-approved treatments for (a) lung, (b) bowel and (c) breast cancer in England; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: We have made no assessment of the availability of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) approved treatments for lung, bowel and breast cancer at a national or at primary care trust (PCT) level.
	PCTs are legally obliged to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance, within three months of guidance being published; unless the requirement is waived in a specific case.

Carers

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to place requirements on HealthWatch to improve patient support for carers whose health is affected by their caring duties.

Anne Milton: HealthWatch is being established to represent the collective voice of all people and to make sure their views and experiences of health and social care are properly reflected in the commissioning and provision of services. We will not place requirements on HealthWatch to look at specific issues or groups of people. We have, however, placed a duty on HealthWatch to ensure it discharges its functions in a way that is representative of local people the definition of which includes carers.

Carers: Health

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider adopting a strategy to promote well-being among unpaid carers.

Paul Burstow: The coalition Government published its cross Government Carers Strategy, ‘Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy’ in November 2010. It sets out the priority areas for action, focusing on what will have the biggest impact on carers' lives, including supporting carers to remain mentally and physically well. Other key priorities are supporting carers to identify themselves earlier; supporting them to achieve their full education and employment potential and personalising support so they can live a life of their own alongside caring.
	A copy of the strategy has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_122077
	The Government published the Care and Support White Paper, together with the draft Care and Support Bill, on 11 July, which set out our plans for transformation of care and support. The draft Bill includes important provisions to extend the rights of carers to have an assessment of their own needs for support and—for the first time—to place a new duty on local authorities to meet carers' eligible needs for support.
	For the first time in law, the draft Care and Support Bill gives a proactive, positive message about what care and support is for, by creating new statutory principles designed to embed the promotion of individual well-being as the driving force behind care and support. The first clause of the draft Bill sets the context for all the provisions which follow: that the well-being of the individual is paramount and that local authorities must promote the individual's well-being in decisions made with and about them. This well-being principle is central to the Bill's approach to enshrining individual needs and outcomes at the heart of the new legal framework.

Dental Services: Nottinghamshire

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were registered in (a) Ashfield constituency and (b) Nottinghamshire in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. Data are available for the number of dentists with national health service activity in Bassetlaw, Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), for the last five years in the following table:
	
		
			 Headcount 
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 53 52 53 51 65 
			 Nottingham City PCT 138 145 142 147 164 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 280 307 322 331 335 
			 Notes: 1. Dentists are defined as performers with NHS activity recorded by FP17 forms. 2. Dentists will be counted more than once if they have a contract in more than one PCT or strategic health authority. 3. England totals exclude duplication. 4. Data consists of performers in General Dental Services, Personal Dental Services and Trust-led Dental Services. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, NHS Dental Services of the NHS Business Services Authority

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which primary care trusts have asked diabetes patients to change their blood glucose metre to a different brand for cost reasons in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how much the NHS spent on insulin pumps in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not collect this data.

General Practitioners

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that no adverse effects on the quality of healthcare commissioning arise from variations in the organisational structure, competency and transparency of commissioning groups.

Simon Burns: The NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for considering applications from Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) for establishment. The board will be required to satisfy itself of a number of core matters when considering applications, including whether a CCG has an appropriate area, satisfactory governance arrangements and whether it will be able to discharge its commissioning functions effectively. Where a CCG is not ready or willing to undertake its full statutory functions, the board may place conditions on the grant of an application. This could include placing restrictions on what functions a CCG carries out, or how it does so. It could also involve the board or another CCG carrying out functions on behalf of a CCG.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will also be responsible for holding CCGs to account. The board must conduct an assessment of how well each CCG has discharged its functions during each financial year, including in particular, how well a CCG has sought continuous improvement in the. quality of services or reduced inequalities. The board must publish a report annually summarising the results of all its performance assessments of CCGs. If the board believes that a CCG is failing, has failed, or might, fail to discharge any of its functions properly, it has powers to intervene in the operations of a CCG.

Health Professions

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for joint working between health visitors, midwives and GPs after the implementation of the provisions of Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Anne Milton: By October 2012, there will be mechanisms in place to produce Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Well-being Strategies to inform clinical commissioning group commissioning plans. Health and Well-being boards are where all commissioners come together to form a common understanding of outcomes, identify groups in need of support, listen to what matters to people locally, collaborate and hold each other to account. The NHS Commissioning Board is a key local partner of a Health and Well-being board. The NHS Commissioning Board will commission primary care services and will use the health and well-being board to make links with services provided elsewhere in the system, for example, maternity services commissioned by the clinical commissioning groups and health visiting, which is expected to be commissioned by local authorities from 2015.
	The Department has made available a range of documents designed to support partnership working for all professionals delivering the Health Child Programme 0-19 years olds. In particular, the ‘The Health Visiting and Midwifery Partnership—pathway for pregnancy and early weeks’, builds on good practice and evidence drawn from the professions and outlines aspirations and support that relate to improved outcomes. This is available at the Department's website:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/supporting-partnership-working/

Health Visitors

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the future of the Health Visitor service; and how these services will be commissioned.

Anne Milton: ‘The Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011-15—A Call to Action’, (February 2011), set out plans, accountabilities and partnership working related to the growth of the health visitor workforce. A copy has already been placed in the Library. The Department has put in place a four year transformational programme of recruitment and retention, professional development and improved commissioning linked to public health improvement. This will secure a future health visiting service that is universal, energised and fit for long-term growth.
	The future commissioning route of health visiting and the wider children's public health service from pregnancy to five years was subject to consultation in the Public Health White Paper. Following this consultation, the Government announced that it is committed to transferring commissioning of children's public health services for this group, to local authorities in the medium term. However, in the short-term, the commitment to raise numbers of health visitors at the same time as strengthening the Healthy Child Programme and expanding Family Nurse Partnership by 2015, is best achieved through national health service commissioning. Between April 2013 and March 2015 the NHS Commissioning Board will lead the commissioning of health visitor services.

Leukaemia

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that chronic myeloid leukaemia patients have a wide range of treatment options (a) when newly diagnosed and (b) at the second line of treatment;
	(2)  what long-term plans his Department has to ensure that those diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia have access to a wide range of treatment options after the end of the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2014.

Paul Burstow: ‘Improving Outcomes in Haematological Cancers’, published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2003, makes recommendations on the treatment, management and care of patients with haematological cancers. The guidance makes recommendations on first and second line treatments for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Our Cancer Outcomes Strategy, published on 12 January 2011, makes it clear that the NICE guidance will continue to be a feature of all commissioned services.
	This year, NICE has made recommendations regarding a number of drugs for first and second line treatment of CML. On 25 April 2012, NICE published final guidance that recommended nilotinib and standard-dose imatinib for first line CML but did not recommend dasatinib. This followed final guidance, published by NICE on 13 January 2012, that recommended nilotinib but did not recommend dasatinib or high-dose imatinib for patients who are resistant or intolerant to standard-dose imatinib.
	Both NICE recommendations concerning nilotinib are subject to a patient access scheme agreed between the manufacturer and the Department that reduces the price of the drug.
	There is a statutory obligation on the national health service to provide funding for treatments and drugs recommended by NICE technology appraisal guidance within three months of the NICE technology appraisal guidance being published.
	Once NICE publishes guidance, health professionals and the organisations that employ them are expected to take it fully into account when deciding what treatments to give people. However, NICE guidance does not replace the knowledge and skills of individual health professionals who treat patients. If a clinician feels that a certain treatment would be particularly beneficial to a patient, they can recommend it, even if it has not been approved by NICE, subject to the primary care trust (PCT) agreeing to fund the treatment.
	The NHS Constitution states that patients have the right to expect local decisions, on the funding of drugs and treatments:
	“to be made rationally following a proper consideration of the evidence.”
	If a PCT decides not to fund a drug, then it should explain that decision.
	We will ensure that there are arrangements in place to protect individual patients who are receiving treatment with drugs funded by the Cancer Drugs Fund as the end of the Fund approaches.
	From January 2014, under our plans for value-based pricing, we want all patients, including those with CML, to have better access to effective and innovative new drugs at a price that reflects the value they bring to patients and the NHS.

Medical Records

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of expanding access to anonymised medical data on (a) medical research and (b) the economy.

Simon Burns: The Prime Minister launched the Strategy for UK Life Sciences in December 2011. This sets out an ambitious programme of activity designed to position the United Kingdom as the global hub for life sciences and the location of choice for investment, thus contributing to sustained economic growth. As part of this strategy, a new secure data service—the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)—was established on 29 March 2012. The Government is investing £60 million over the next four years in this unique service that offers life sciences researchers access to anonymised and linked patient records covering primary, secondary, community and special care.
	Expanding access to anonymised medical data will substantially improve the evidence base for research in the UK, by ensuring data collected in routine national health service care is available to researchers to enable assessment of clinical trial feasibility, site selection and faster patient recruitment. It will improve the evidence base for population wide observational research studies, which has been difficult to achieve previously.
	The CPRD builds upon two earlier initiatives: the Research Capability Programme that developed the concept with a wide range of stakeholders, piloted the service and built the case for investment; and the General Practice Research Database that has been operating for the past 20 years with limited access to patient data.

Medical Records

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what legislative proposals he plans to bring forward to support plans for greater use of anonymised data;
	(2)  what his policy is on the use of anonymised data; and what assessment he has made of the (a) Framingham Heart Study and (b) Whitehall II study.

Simon Burns: There are no plans to introduce legislative proposals to support the use of anonymised data. Such proposals are not required as effectively anonymised data can be used freely.
	The Government published in May 2012 its information strategy for health and care in England, “The power of information—Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need”.
	This strategy makes it clear that we will use anonymised data to drive system improvement, our health and care choices, integration, efficiency and research; support growth; and allow robust measurement of care outcomes.
	To ensure that there are no unnecessary barriers to implementing the strategy, the Government has commissioned a review of the current information governance rules and their application in England. The aim of this review is to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between the protection of confidential and identifiable information within our health and care records and the use and sharing of that information to improve the quality and safety of our own care and for the benefit of wider society. Dame Fiona Caldicott is leading this independent review which will report later in the year.
	Although both the Framingham Heart study and the Whitehall II study are independent of the Department, we have brought these studies to Dame Fiona's attention.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that any future changes to European law on data protection provided greater clarity and proportionality on the use of patient data in health research in the UK.

Simon Burns: The Ministry of Justice is co-ordinating the Government's input into the EU data protection regulation and Department of Health officials are actively involved in this work to represent the interests of all parties in the United Kingdom who have a justifiable peed to process health data. This includes ensuring that any new regulation or directive provides a clear and workable framework for health research compliance with data protection requirements.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce an opt-out system for the use of anonymised patient data within health research.

Simon Burns: When data is effectively anonymised it can no longer identify specific individuals and they have no legal right to opt-out of its use for health research or other purposes. We therefore have no plans to introduce such an opt-out system.
	The Government published in May 2012 its information strategy for health and care in England, ‘The power of information—Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need’.
	This strategy makes it clear that we will use anonymised data to drive system improvement, our health and care choices, integration, efficiency and research; support growth; and allow robust measurement of care outcomes.
	A copy of the publication has already been placed in the Library and further information is available at:
	http://informationstrategy.dh.gov.uk

NHS: Redundancy Pay

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the system is for seeking approval from HM Treasury for NHS special severance cases; and what plans he has to improve that system;
	(2)  how his Department keeps information on how management systems have been or will be improved in each case submitted for HM Treasury approval for NHS special severance cases.

Simon Burns: Before seeking approval from HM Treasury, national health service trusts, primary care trusts or strategic health authorities must be satisfied that any severance case is in the best interest of their organisation and represents value for money. The case must then be approved by their remuneration committee, the membership of which is non-executive approval is also required.
	The severance case will then be submitted to the Department, where the case is reviewed to ensure that it does not reward, or is seen to reward failure, dishonesty or inappropriate behaviour and then is assessed in respect of value for money. Once the Department is content that the severance case is appropriate and demonstrates value for money, it will be submitted to HM Treasury for final approval.
	Foundation trusts must also seek HM Treasury approval, through Monitor, for any severance cases.
	In respect of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities trusts, the Department keeps a detailed record of all severance cases, which allows the challenge of any organisation that routinely submits severance cases, rather than tackling difficult issues.
	The Department requires that every severance case submitted includes an explanation of the lessons that have been learnt by the organisation and how management systems have been or will be improved to avoid the occurrences of similar cases in the future.

Smoking: Health Services

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government is taking to assist local authorities in preparing to take over responsibility for commissioning smoking cessation services.

Anne Milton: In ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Update and way forward’, published in July 2011, the Government confirmed that the new responsibilities for upper tier and unitary local authorities would include tobacco control, including smoking cessation services. It will be for local authorities, alongside their health and wellbeing board partners, to determine what investment they wish to make in smoking cessation, based on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the joint health and wellbeing strategy. However, the Public Health Outcomes Framework, to which local authorities will have to have regard, contains three indicators on smoking prevalence, with respect to adults, pregnant women, and young people.
	The Department and, from April 2013, Public Health England, will continue to support local authorities to help them to develop and implement comprehensive evidence-based tobacco control policies, which should include the provision of smoking cessation services.

Veterans: Amputation

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) medical services, (b) compensation and (c) mental health support are made available by his Department for former service personnel who have had limbs amputated as a result of their service.

Simon Burns: The full range of national health service medical services that are available to the general population are also available to veterans.
	Some service charities had expressed concern that the NHS was not equipped with the resources or expertise to continue to provide the high level of service currently provided to military amputees by the Defence Medical Services. The Prime Minister asked my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) to review prosthetics provision for this group. The Government accepted the key recommendations of his report and allocated up to £15 million over three years for implementation.
	Veterans who have an injury attributable to service have had access to additional funding for high quality prosthetics through an existing local NHS Disablement Service Centre since April 2012. We are now examining how best to implement national specialised commissioning of veterans' prosthetics services by March 2013.
	Compensation for former service personnel who have had limbs amputated as a result of their service is paid by the Ministry of Defence through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
	The AFCS provides a tax free lump sum for pain and suffering, the size of which reflects the severity of injury or illness. There are 15 tariff levels with associated lump sum awards which range from £1,200 to £570,000. For serious injuries and illness, in addition to the lump sum, the AFCS also provides an income stream known as the Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP). The GIP is a tax-free, index-linked monthly payment, payable from the point of discharge until death.
	The GIP is an enhancement to an individual's pension and is paid in recognition of the fact that the person has a lasting injury or illness caused by their military service which has impacted their future earning potential. The scale of the payment is based on the severity of injury, and age and salary at discharge..
	Since the publication of Dr Andrew Murrison's report into veterans' mental health services ‘Fighting Fit’ in October 2010, the Department has been working hard on the implementation of his plans to improve outcomes for ex-serving personnel with mental health issues. Some excellent progress has been made so far, with many new services for veterans up and running. There is a 24-hour helpline for veterans, an online emotional support service ‘Big White Wall’, an e-learning package for general practitioners launched in conjunction with the Royal College of General Practitioners, and new veterans' mental well-being services in each of the ‘old’ strategic health authorities’ areas. There has also been an uplift in the number of specific personnel available to treat veterans' mental health conditions to over 50, located nationwide.
	In terms of services for amputees specifically, we recognise that many of those who have lost limbs in service of their country will also develop mental health issues. Physical and mental health are closely linked and our aim is to develop holistic and integrated services whose overall focus will be to improve the lives of those who have served. In the development phase for our veterans' mental health services, we made sure we included experts in many different medical disciplines.

Zinc

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2012, Official Report, column 807W, on nutrition, what assessment he has made of the doubling of the proportion of young people between four and 10 and 11 and 18 whose daily intake of zinc is below the recommended level; and what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the (a) physical and (b) mental health of such young people.

Anne Milton: The Department has assessed the zinc intake of children using data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). The most recent results(1), combining intake data, from children surveyed between 2008 and 2011 show that the proportion of individuals with intakes of zinc below the lower reference nutrient intake (LRNI) is now lower in both four-10 year olds and 11-18 year olds than it was in the earlier survey of this group(2) conducted in 1997, indicating improvement. 6 %, of four-10 year olds now have intakes below the LRNI compared to 15%, in 1997. 15%, of 11-18 year olds now have intakes below the LRNI compared to 21%, in 1997.
	Habitual intakes of nutrients below the LRNI put individuals at greater risk of becoming deficient, but having a low intake of zinc over the NDNS survey period does not necessarily mean that an individual is deficient. For zinc the dietary reference values were set in 19913 and were based on the amount of zinc needed to balance daily losses, rather than an amount needed to maintain or promote functional health effects.
	Zinc is an essential component of a number of proteins involved in biological processes in the human body and the symptoms of zinc deficiency are wide ranging. Research testing the benefits of zinc supplements have mainly focused on countries in the developing world where malnutrition is prevalent. Results on the physical effects, such as growth(4), wound healing(5), immunity(6),diarrhoea(7) and the mental effects(8) of zinc have generally been inconsistent.
	The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition reviews the results of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey and has not raised particular issues about zinc to the Department.
	References:
	(1) Bates B, Lennox A, Prentice A, Bates C, and Swan G (Eds.) (2012) National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Headline results from Years 1, 2 and 3 (combined) of the rolling programme (2008-09 – 2010-11)
	(2) Gregory J, Lowe S, Bates a, Prentice A, Jackson LV, Smithers G, Wenlock R and Farron M (2000) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: young people aged four to 18 years, Volume 1: Report of the diet and nutrition survey London HMSO.
	(3) Department of Health (1991) Dietary reference values for food energy and nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on health and social subjects No. 41. London HMSO.
	(4) Ramakrishnan U, Nguyen P, Martorell R (2009) Effects of micronutrients on growth of children under five years of age: meta-analyses of single and multiple nutrient interventions. Am J Clin Nutr. 89 (l):191-203.
	(5) Wilkinson EA (2012) Oral zinc for arterial and venous leg ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 15;8:
	(6) Hemila H (2011) Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of colds: a systematic review. Open Respir Med J. 5:51-8.
	(7) Lazzerini M, Ronfani L. (2012) Oral zinc for treating diarrhoea in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Jun 13;6
	(8) Black MM (2003) The evidence linking zinc deficiency with children's cognitive and motor functioning. J Nutr. 133(5 Suppl 1):1473S-6S.

Apprentices

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of additional apprenticeships that would need to be created per percentage point of rebalancing of the economy from financial services to manufacturing.

John Hayes: Final data for the 2010/11 academic year show that there were 48,970 Apprenticeship starts in the Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Sector Subject Area, up by 29% on 2009/10. Of these, 32,120 were Intermediate Level and 16,850 were Advanced or Higher Level. Provisional data for the first nine months of the 2011/12 academic year show that there were 44,130 Apprenticeship starts in Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies. Provisional data will change as further data returns are received from further education colleges and providers.
	The relationship between this investment and the concept of economic 'balance' is dependent upon assumptions about the character of labour market demand across the country. To model this would require a disproportionate amount of resource.

Apprentices

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of the apprenticeships (a) created in 2011-12 and (b) to be created in 2012-13 are level (i) 1, (ii) 2 and (iii) 3.

John Hayes: The Apprenticeship programme is demand led. The Government makes funding available to Further Education (FE) colleges and providers to support the delivery of FE and skills training including Apprenticeships.
	We estimate that for the 2011/12 academic year—which is not yet complete—there is funding available to fund 222,000 Apprenticeship places for those aged 16 to 18 and 645,000 Apprenticeship places for those aged 19 and over.
	We estimate that for the 2012/13 academic year there will be funding available to fund 240,000 Apprenticeship places for those aged 16 to 18 and 650,000 Apprenticeship places for those aged 19 and over.
	The actual amount delivered will depend on learner and employer demand. Robust breakdowns by level are not available.
	Note that these figures relate to learners participating in Apprenticeships during each academic year, some of whom could have started in previous years.
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship participation, starts and achievement is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 28th June 2012:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Apprentices

Sam Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will calculate the cost to the public purse of increasing the proportion of apprenticeships for 16-17 year olds by 11 per cent in each year between 2012-13 and 2016-17.

John Hayes: The Government is committed to raising the age of compulsory participation in education or training to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015 and is spending a record £7.5 billion on education and training places for young people in 2012-13. Under the Education Act, the Government is also committed to ensuring suitable training is available for all young people who secure an apprenticeships place. However, apprenticeships are demand led and depend on employers offering places; the Government does not therefore set targets for future expansion, and the exact costs of future provision will depend upon the mix of opportunities which employers offer.

Business

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with micro-businesses.

John Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) recognises the importance of micro businesses, their role in promoting growth in the economy and the need to understand the particular barriers they face.
	BIS regularly engages with small business representative bodies such as the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Forum of Private Businesses (FPB) who have a number of micro businesses as their members. Mark Prisk meets the FSB quarterly and the Permanent Secretary met with the FSB in June 2012.
	In July 2012, the Minister for Business and Enterprise, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk), met my hon. Friend the Member for Newton Abbot (Anne Marie Morris), to discuss the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Micro Businesses and how we can assist micro businesses.
	The All Party Parliamentary Group for Micro Businesses was established to accord a voice to this sector in Parliament. The group currently has an estimated 70 members drawn from across almost every party in Parliament. The Secretariat for the group is undertaken by the Forum of Private Business, with a number of other business organisations and sector representatives supporting its activities on an informal basis (such as the Federation of Small Businesses).

Business: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to support small and medium-sized businesses in Peterborough.

John Hayes: We want to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and for the next decade to be the most entrepreneurial and dynamic in Britain's history. That is why, in January, the Prime Minister launched “Business in You”, a major campaign, to inspire people to realise their business ambitions and to highlight the range of support available for start-ups and growing businesses.
	We have introduced a range of measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK:
	Ensuring SME s  can access the support and advice they need to start and grow
	We have changed the way that we help people access the information, guidance and advice they need to start and grow a business. We have put in place a range of services including;
	An improved
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	website including: a new Growth and Improvement Service and My New Business, a comprehensive start-up service.
	A Business Link Helpline which will support those who are unable to access the internet.
	A mentoring portal
	www.mentorsme.co.uk
	providing an easy route to find experienced business mentors.
	A new three year “GrowthAccelerator” programme which will provide high quality coaching support for up to 26,000 SMEs with high growth potential.
	Ensuring businesses can access the finance they need
	In July, the Government and Bank of England launched the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS), which allows banks and building societies to borrow at cheaper rates from the Bank of England for periods of up to four years. The FLS creates strong incentives for banks to increase lending to UK households and businesses by lowering interest rates and increasing access to credit.
	Launched a new £10 million Start-Up Loan Scheme aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds.
	Increased the funds available to invest through the Business Finance Partnership (BFP) to £1.2 billion. Government will allocate £100 million of the BFP to invest through non-traditional lending channels that can reach smaller businesses.
	Continuation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme until 2014/15, providing, subject to demand, over £2 billion of additional lending.
	Announced a new £50 million Business Angel Co-Investment Fund to encourage Business Angel investment.
	Continuation of the Government's Enterprise Capital Funds programme, increasing our commitment by £200 million, providing for more than £300 million of venture capital investment to address the equity gap for early stage innovative SMEs.
	Welcomed the report of the industry review of non-bank lending chaired by Tim Breedon and will take forward its recommendations, including encouraging prompt payment by larger firms.
	A £2.4 billion Regional Growth Fund operating across England from 2011 to 2015 which supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment creating economic growth and sustainable employment.
	Ensuring that regulation supports business growth
	Introduced a 'one-in, one-out' rule whereby no new regulations which impose costs on businesses can be brought in without regulation of an equivalent value being removed.
	In April 2011 the Government introduced a three-year moratorium on new domestic regulation affecting micro businesses and genuine start-ups.
	The Red Tape Challenge is tackling the stock of regulation via a comprehensive thematic review which aims to identify regulations that could be removed, simplified or done in a different way. Ten themes have already been reviewed and Ministers have announced that 50% of over 1,800 regulations across these themes will be scrapped or improved.
	Changes proposed in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill will strengthen the legal powers under which sunset and review clauses can be included in secondary legislation.
	Addressing the way in which regulation is enforced at the front line through a series of sector-based reviews of enforcement to examine whether national and local regulatory enforcement was being undertaken and placing the minimum necessary burden on business.
	To reduce barriers to businesses taking on new staff Government has announced significant deregulation of employment law, including increasing the unfair dismissal qualifying period from one to two years from 6 April 2012.
	Encouraging exporting SMEs
	Government will spend £35 million to double, from 25,000 to 50,000, the number of SMEs that UKTI supports a year by 2015. Many components of the UKTI product are aimed at SMEs:
	Passport to Export is a trade development programme offering new and inexperienced exporters help and support to build the capability to start exporting proactively and make their first visit to an export market. Launched in 2001, it has helped around 14,000 SMEs as of January 2012.
	Gateway to Global Growth offers experienced SME exporters the opportunity to increase their exporting skills and awareness of what is on offer from UKTI and private sector suppliers. The aim is to help them enter more difficult markets or expand in existing ones.
	Market Visit Support provides assistance to new to export and/or new to market SMEs visiting overseas markets, individually or in groups as part of their trade development process.
	Budget 2012 set out an ambition to more than double annual UK exports to £1 trillion by 2020 through additional measures including expanding the overseas role of UK Export Finance to enable it to develop finance packages that could help UK exporters secure opportunities identified through UK Trade and Investment's High Value Opportunities programme.
	Local business support
	In additional to this national support, there is specific support for businesses in Peterborough, including:
	Cambridge and Counties Bank
	www.ccbank.co.uk
	which was launched in June by Cambridgeshire county council pension fund in conjunction with Trinity Hall College, Cambridge. The focus of the bank will be on delivering secured lending to SMEs that typically have an annual turnover of less than £25 million, and assets valued under this. The bank will offer loans between £50,000 and £1 million.
	Opportunity Peterborough—the local urban regeneration company—has an active network of SMEs in the Peterborough area and holds a range of events to signpost business improvement provision and provide peer-to-peer networking opportunities.

Construction: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to support the construction industry in Peterborough; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The Government is actively working to help all construction firms including those in Peterborough.
	Returning the UK to sustainable and balanced growth is a key priority for the Government and construction has a central role to play in this. Working closely with the construction industry, we are therefore:
	Removing barriers to growth—by tackling the planning system, the burden of regulation and access to finance. The Government is also looking at a number of other issues which may constrain the industry's ability to respond to future growth such as skills.
	Stimulating infrastructure development and improvement—The National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) sets out the overarching view of our forthcoming infrastructure needs. It contains major spending commitments to improve our transport and broadband networks as well as steps to attract major new private sector investment. It has identified a pipeline of over 500 projects, including the top 40 priority infrastructure investments that are critical for growth.
	Ensuring Government plays a full role as a key customer of the industry. The Public Sector accounts for about 30% of the construction industry's output with another 10% accounted for by private finance initiative/public and private partnerships.
	Looking for new opportunities and identifying how they can best be exploited including realising the opportunities of the developing green economy, overseas markets and more effective use of ICT through Building Information Management (BIM).
	Stimulating the house building industry. The Government is committed to seeing a major increase in the supply of new homes where they are needed and wanted. The Housing Strategy, “Laying the Foundations—A Housing Strategy for England”, published last November announced an ambitious package of measures to increase significantly the supply of affordable homes.
	Nationally, £4.5 billion is to be invested in new affordable housing and expect to deliver 170,000 new homes by 2015. This will help create 80,000 jobs in construction and related trades. In addition, we are providing £1.34 billion to support the development of new homes and related infrastructure. Our £570 million Get Britain Building investment fund will help get stalled sites moving again. Applications from the Peterborough area have been made to both round 1 and 2 of this process.
	The £770 million Growing Places Fund is allowing Local Enterprise Partnerships to invest in local infrastructure that will boost local economic development and create new homes and jobs, including just over £16.1 million allocated to the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough Economic Partnership. Both the A1139 Fletton Parkway Improvement Scheme and Phase 2 of the Peterborough Southbank Regeneration Project have been shortlisted by the LEP.
	Final data for the 2010/11 academic year show that there were 60 apprenticeship starts in the 'Construction, Planning and the Built Environment' sector subject area in Peterborough local authority similar to the number of starts in 2009/10.
	Final data for the 2010/11 academic year show that there were 20 apprenticeship starts in the 'Construction' framework in Peterborough local authority, down from 30 starts on 2009/10.
	The Government is working closely with the construction industry to ensure they benefit from the biggest and best apprenticeships programme our country has seen.
	To ensure apprenticeships are better able to respond to the future needs of the sector, we have asked Construction Skills, the body responsible for promoting the skills needs of the sector to government, to set out further plans to increase the availability of high quality apprenticeships.

Staff

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies in each month since January 2010.

John Hayes: holding answer 17 July 2012
	The following table shows headcount for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) (excluding UKTI) in each month since January 2010:
	
		
			  BIS headcount (excluding UKTI) 
			 2010  
			 January 3,063 
			 February 3,167 
			 March 3,099 
			 April 3,081 
			 May 3,054 
			 June 3,099 
			 July 3,074 
			 August 2,934 
			 September 3,017 
			 October 2,986 
			 November 2,703 
			 December 2,718 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 2,693 
			 February 2,729 
			 March 2,747 
			 April 2,720 
			 May 2,711 
			 June 2,639 
			 July 2,439 
			 August 2,436 
			 September 2,440 
			 October 2,454 
			 November 2,462 
			 December 2,460 
			   
			 2012  
			 January 2,517 
			 February 2,455 
			 March 2,478 
			 April 2,533 
			 May 2,563 
		
	
	All BIS core (including UKTI) headcount data are published on a monthly basis and can be found at the following link:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
	I have asked chief executives of the Executive agencies to respond directly to the right hon. Member. This information is not held by BIS in respect of non-departmental public bodies.
	Letter from Tim Moss, dated 16 July 2012
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 12 July 2012, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, UIN 117800.
	The headcount for Companies House in each month since January 2010 is as follows:
	
		
			 January 2010 to June 2012 
			 2010 
			  Headcount 
			 January 1,170 
			 February 1,172 
			 March 1,163 
			 April 1,172 
			 May 1,177 
			 June 1,176 
			 July 1,177 
			 August 1,164 
			 September 1,170 
			 October 1,170 
			 November 1,154 
			 December 1,155 
		
	
	
		
			 2011 
			  Headcount 
			 January 1,155 
			 February 1,152 
			 March 1,146 
			 April 1,146 
			 May 1,146 
			 June 1,110 
			 July 1,091 
			 August 1,071 
			 September 998 
			 October 996 
			 November 997 
			 December 996 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 
			  Headcount 
			 January 996 
			 February 994 
			 March 990 
			 April 985 
			 May 984 
			 June 984 
		
	
	The headcount figures include full-time, part-time, and partially retired staff, and the number full time equivalent posts is significantly lower than the overall headcount numbers. For example, the number of full time equivalent posts for January 2010 was 1058 and for June 2012 it was 895. If you would like to see the full time equivalent figures for the period in question please contact me, and I will forward them to you.
	Letter from Graham Horne, dated 16 July 2012
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies in each month since January 2010.
	The headcount for permanent staff in The Insolvency Service since January 2010 is shown in the table below:
	
		
			  Headcount 
			 2010  
			 January 2,807 
			 February 2,796 
			 March 2,782 
			 April 2,771 
		
	
	
		
			 May 2,749 
			 June 2,735 
			 July 2,722 
			 August 2,708 
			 September 2,691 
			 October 2,685 
			 November 2,658 
			 December 2,657 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 2,649 
			 February 2,644 
			 March 2,639 
			 April 2,584 
			 May 2,139 
			 June 2,129 
			 July 2,124 
			 August 2,115 
			 September 2,115 
			 October 2,121 
			 November 2,115 
			 December 2,112 
			   
			 2012  
			 January 2,106 
			 February 2,104 
			 March 2,101 
			 April 2,094 
			 May 2,091 
		
	
	Letter from John Alty, dated 13 July 2012
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 12th July 2012, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Headcount (HC) and Full time equivalent (FTE) of Intellectual Property Office since January 2010 is as follows:
	
		
			  HC FTE 
			 201 0   
			 January 906 856.57 
			 February 905 855.29 
			 March 908 858.28 
			 April 907 857.18 
			 May 908 858.18 
			 June 906 855.68 
			 July 907 856.37 
			 August 904 852.24 
			 September 902 848.99 
			 October 897 842.71 
			 November 897 842.35 
			 December 894 838.94 
			    
			 2011   
			 January 897 842.48 
			 February 897 841.61 
			 March 900 844.94 
			 April 899 843.56 
			 May 902 844.68 
			 June 902 844.72 
		
	
	
		
			 July 897 840.21 
			 August 899 843.56 
			 September 897 839.89 
			 October 897 839.83 
			 November 900 843.04 
			 December 903 845.82 
			    
			 2012   
			 January 907 848.98 
			 February 916 856.00 
			 March 900 844.94 
			 April 921 861.94 
			 May 951 892.07 
			 June 951 892.40 
			 July 953 894.47 
		
	
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 16 July 2012
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 12 July 2012, UIN 117800 to the Secretary of State for Business. Innovation and Skills.
	The headcount of the Met Office in each month since January 2010 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Headcount 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 January 1,924 1,884 1,867 
			 February 1,925 1,894 1,897 
			 March 1,926 1,908 1,901 
			 April 1,905 1,906 1,880 
			 May 1,911 1,899 1,927 
			 June 1,912 1,897 1,925 
			 July 1,925 1,903 — 
			 August 1,922 1,915 — 
			 September 1,923 1,912 — 
			 October 1,893 1,877 — 
			 November 1,896 1,893 — 
			 December 1,890 1,889 — 
		
	
	Letter from Malcolm Dawson, dated 16 July 2012
	I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to your Parliamentary Question 117800 tabled on 12 July 2012.
	For your information, Land Registry was an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice until July 2011 when we moved to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills under a Machinery of Government change.
	The table gives the data requested.
	I hope you find this information useful.
	
		
			 Land Registry headcount, January 2010 to July 2012 
			  Land Registry total 
			 2010  
			 January 6,399 
			 February 6,391 
			 March 6,299 
			 April 6,284 
			 May 6,265 
			 June 6,246 
			 July 6,214 
			 August 6,039 
			 September 5,953 
			 October 5,725 
			 November 5,648 
		
	
	
		
			 December 5,625 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 5,585 
			 February 5,570 
			 March 5,492 
			 April 5,397 
			 May 5,352 
			 June 5,322 
			 July 5,084 
			 August 5,076 
			 September 5,067 
			 October 5,060 
			 November 4,798 
			 December 4,782 
			   
			 2012  
			 January 4,765 
			 February 4,739 
			 March 4,733 
			 April 4,666 
			 May 4,698 
			 June 4,685 
			 July 4,668 
		
	
	Letter from Peter Mason, dated 16 July 2012
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 12 July 2012, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about headcount.
	The number of staff in post at NMO was as shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Number 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 January 70 71 66 
			 February 68 71 66 
			 March 73 70 67 
			 April 73 70 66 
			 May 72 70 66 
			 June 71 70 66 
			 July 71 70 — 
			 August 71 70 — 
		
	
	
		
			 September 71 70 — 
			 October 71 70 — 
			 November 71 69 — 
			 December 71 67 — 
		
	
	Letter from David Williams, dated 13 July 2012
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies in each month since January 2010. (117800)
	The UK Space Agency became an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and data is only available from this date Figures prior to this date are included in the core Department of Business, Innovation and Skills data.
	The data requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Headcount 
			 2011  
			 April 33 
			 May 34 
			 June 34 
			 July 33 
			 August 33 
			 September 34 
			 October 37 
			 November 38 
			 December 35 
			   
			 2012  
			 January 36 
			 February 32 
			 March 33 
			 April 37 
			 May 37 
		
	
	Letter from Kim Thorneywork, dated 16 July 2012
	Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the headcount was of his Department and each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies in each month since January 2010
	Please be advised that the Agency has used end of quarter figures which have been applied to the preceding months. Please refer to the table providing a detailed breakdown of the data.
	
		
			 Skills Funding Agency total headcount 
			 2010/11 
			  2010 2011 
			  Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 
			  Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March 
			 Total 1,901 1,901 1,901 1,875 1,875 1,875 1,645 1,645 1,645 1,655 1,655 1,655 
		
	
	2011-12
	
		
			 2011-12 
			  2011 2012 
			  Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 
			  Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 
			 Total 1,633 1,633 1,633 1,565 1,565 1,565 1,529 1,529 1,529 1,259 1,259 1,259 
		
	
	
		
			 2012-13 
			  Quarter 1, 2012 
			  Apr May June 
			 Total 1,248 1,248 1,248 
			 Notes: 1. We have used our end of quarter figures and applied these to the preceding months. 2. The Skills Funding Agency was created in April 2010 so it is only possible to provide data from this date forwards. 
		
	
	Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence, dated 16 July 2012
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to you in response to your Parliamentary Question asking The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills "what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies in each month since January 2010."
	Ordnance Survey, as the national mapping agency of Great Britain, is a Department in its own right with Executive Agency Status operating as a government Trading Fund. It reports to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The headcount of Ordnance Survey for each of the months since January 2010 is:
	
		
			 Headcount 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 January 1,206 1,147 1,084 
			 February 1,208 1,147 1,086 
			 March 1,206 1,132 1,075 
			 April 1,195 1,117 1,080 
			 May 1,190 1,113 1,082 
			 June 1,187 1,108 1,076 
			 July 1,186 1,105 — 
			 August 1,183 1,100 — 
			 September 1,179 1,098 — 
			 October 1,178 1,097 — 
			 November 1,176 1,093 — 
			 December 1,151 1,091 — 
		
	
	These numbers represent total Ordnance Survey employee numbers and include full time and part time workers.
	I hope this information is of use.

Staff

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies, by region and (c) its office in Victoria Street, London, in each month since January 2010.

John Hayes: holding answer 17 July 2012
	The following table shows headcount for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) (excluding UKTI) in each month since January 2010.
	
		
			  BIS Headcount (excluding UKTI) 
			 January 2010 3,063 
			 February 2010 3,167 
			 March 2010 3,099 
			 April 2010 3,081 
			 May 2010 3,054 
			 June 2010 3,099 
			 July 2010 3,074 
			 August 2010 2,934 
			 September 2010 3,017 
			 October 2010 2,986 
			 November 2010 2,703 
			 December 2010 2,718 
			 January 2011 2,693 
			 February 2011 2,729 
			 March 2011 2,747 
			 April 2011 2,720 
			 May 2011 2,711 
			 June 2011 2,639 
			 July 2011 2,439 
			 August 2011 2,436 
			 September 2011 2,440 
			 October 2011 2,454 
			 November 2011 2,462 
			 December 2011 2,460 
			 January 2012 2,517 
			 February 2012 2,455 
			 March 2012 2,478 
			 April 2012 2,533 
			 May 2012 2,563 
		
	
	Information for BIS headcount, by region and its Victoria street office is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All BIS core (including UKTI) headcount data are published on a monthly basis and can be found at the following link.
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
	I have asked chief executives of the executive agencies to respond directly to the right hon. Member. This information is not held by BIS in respect of non-departmental public bodies.
	Letter from David Williams dated 16 July 2012
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies, by region and (c) its Victoria Street, London, office, in each month since January 2010. (117801)
	The UK Space Agency became an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 1 April 2011 and data is only available from this date. Figures prior to this date are included in the core Department of Business, Innovation and Skills data.
	The data requested is shown below and all bar five staff are based at the Headquarters in Swindon, Wiltshire.
	
		
			 Period Headcount 
			 April 2011 33 
			 May 2011 34 
			 June 2011 34 
			 July 2011 33 
			 August 2011 33 
			 September 2011 34 
			 October 2011 37 
			 November 2011 38 
			 December 2011 35 
		
	
	
		
			 January 2012 36 
			 February 2012 32 
			 March 2012 33 
			 April 2012 37 
			 May 2012 37 
		
	
	Letter from Graham Horne dated 16 July 2012
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies, by region and (c) its Victoria Street, London, office, in each month since January 2010.
	Information relating to headcount by government region for The Insolvency Service is not maintained and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Insolvency Service does not have a Victoria Street, London office.
	Letter from John Hirst dated 16 July 2012
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 12 July 2012, UIN 117801 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The headcount of the Met Office in each month since January 2010, by region is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Region Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 
			 2010             
			 East Midlands 58 57 56 53 54 56 54 53 54 55 56 57 
			 East of England 40 40 39 38 36 34 35 36 37 38 38 37 
			 London 74 73 73 69 73 75 73 72 74 71 71 70 
			 North West 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 
			 Northern Ireland 11 12 12 12 12 11 11 12 12 11 11 12 
			 Overseas 39 41 42 45 40 42 43 36 38 41 36 33 
			 Scotland 111 111 112 113 113 113 113 108 109 110 109 107 
			 South East 78 76 77 75 79 79 80 81 77 72 70 69 
			 South West 1,455 1,457 1,455 1,441 1,442 1,440 1,455 1,463 1,461 1,436 1,447 1,447 
			 Wales 19 20 20 21 20 20 20 19 19 17 18 19 
			 West Midlands 14 13 14 13 14 14 14 15 14 14 14 14 
			 Yorkshire & the Humber 18 18 19 18 20 20 19 19 20 20 19 18 
			              
			 2011             
			 East Midlands 59 57 56 57 57 56 56 55 56 57 56 58 
			 East of England 34 34 34 33 31 31 31 32 33 33 33 35 
			 London 69 70 68 66 62 64 64 63 62 62 65 68 
			 North West 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 9 
			 Northern Ireland 12 12 12 12 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 11 
			 Overseas 34 36 35 39 36 41 39 42 42 46 45 44 
			 Scotland 105 108 110 109 110 106 107 112 110 109 110 110 
			 South East 72 70 71 71 78 78 86 87 89 80 79 81 
			 South West 1,442 1,449 1,465 1,464 1,457 1,455 1,455 1,460 1,453 1,422 1,437 1,424 
			 Wales 18 18 18 16 17 17 16 16 17 18 17 17 
			 West Midlands 14 15 15 15 13 12 11 11 12 12 13 14 
			 Yorkshire & the Humber 18 18 17 17 20 19 19 18 19 19 18 18 
			              
			 2012             
			 East Midlands 54 55 51 49 51 52 — — — — — — 
			 East of England 35 34 35 35 36 35 — — — — — — 
			 London 67 68 67 70 67 71 — — — — — — 
			 North West 9 9 9 9 9 9 — — — — — — 
			 Northern Ireland 11 11 11 10 11 12 — — — — — — 
			 Overseas 41 38 44 39 41 38 — — — — — — 
			 Scotland 107 104 103 104 112 115 — — — — — — 
			 South East 85 85 81 80 85 85 — — — — — — 
			 South West 1,409 1,446 1,452 1,434 1,464 1,457 — — — — — — 
			 Wales 17 17 17 16 17 17 — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			 West Midlands 13 13 13 15 15 15 — — — — — — 
			 Yorkshire & the Humber 19 17 18 19 19 19 — — — — — — 
		
	
	Letter from Tim Moss dated 16 July 2012
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 12 July 2012, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, UIN 117801.
	The headcount for Companies House, by region and its Victoria Street, London, Office in each month since January 2010 is as follows:
	
		
			 January 2010 to June 2012 
			  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 
			 2010             
			 Cardiff 1,105 1,105 1,097 1,106 1,111 1,108 1,111 1,098 1,104 1,104 1,089 1,090 
			 London 7 7 7 5 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 
			 Edinburgh 36 38 38 40 38 38 36 36 36 36 35 35 
			 Belfast 22 22 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 
			              
			 2011             
			 Cardiff 1,090 1,088 1,082 1,084 1,084 1,049 1,031 1,011 944 942 943 943 
			 London 9 8 9 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 
			 Edinburgh 35 35 34 34 34 33 32 32 27 27 27 26 
			 Belfast 21 21 21 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 
			              
			 2012             
			 Cardiff 943 941 936 931 929 930 — — — — — — 
			 London 7 7 7 7 8 8 — — — — — — 
			 Edinburgh 26 26 27 27 27 26 — — — — — — 
			 Belfast 20 20 20 20 20 20 — — — — — — 
		
	
	The headcount figures include full-time, part-time, and partially retired staff, and the number of full-time equivalent posts is significantly lower than the overall headcount numbers. For example, the number of full-time equivalent posts in Cardiff for January 2010 was 996 and for June 2012 it was 892. If you would like to see the full-time equivalent figures for the period in question please contact me, and I will forward them to you.
	Letter from Malcolm Dawson dated 16 July 2012
	I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to your Parliamentary Question 117801 tabled on12 July 2012 which asked the following:
	To ask the Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies, by region and (c) its Victoria Street, London, office, in each month since January 2010.
	For your information. Land Registry was an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice until July 2011 when we moved to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills under a Machinery of Government change.
	The attached table overleaf gives the data requested. We have no staff based in Victoria Street.
	I hope you find this information useful.
	
		
			 Land Registry Headcount by region—January 2010 to July 2012 
			  Region 
			  East Midlands East of England Inner London North East North West Outer London South East South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 2010            
			 January 770 576 254 544 738 240 396 1,506 534 533 308 
			 February 770 575 255 544 736 238 396 1,504 534 533 306 
			 March 770 576 255 542 735 161 394 1,505 534 530 297 
			 April 768 578 251 541 733 158 393 1,502 534 530 296 
			 May 770 569 252 539 733 158 391 1,494 532 531 296 
			 June 768 566 254 538 730 158 381 1,492 532 531 296 
			 July 766 554 254 538 728 158 372 1,486 532 530 296 
			 August 754 478 257 536 720 158 317 1,479 527 519 294 
			 September 752 461 243 535 717 155 291 1,468 524 516 291 
			 October 744 422 217 530 696 152 227 1,453 515 496 273 
			 November 732 417 211 523 687 153 218 1,439 512 486 270 
			 December 732 418 209 524 684 153 212 1,430 512 483 268 
			             
		
	
	
		
			 2011            
			 January 732 415 204 518 682 152 202 1,421 511 480 268 
			 February 731 411 203 518 680 155 195 1,417 511 481 268 
			 March 728 411 201 518 679 158 123 1,416 509 481 268 
			 April(1) 723 404 — 515 674 311 108 1,408 507 482 265 
			 May 720 396 — 514 672 308 100 1,398 505 476 263 
			 June 717 389 — 511 671 309 92 1,390 504 477 262 
			 July 707 318 — 492 656 308 25 1,357 496 469 256 
			 August 706 316 — 490 655 315 20 1,354 496 468 256 
			 September 707 313 — 487 656 315 18 1,350 496 469 256 
			 October 707 312 — 486 655 313 18 1,352 494 467 256 
			 November 643 260 — 439 651 303 18 1,317 449 462 256 
			 December 638 257 — 437 649 303 18 1,315 448 461 256 
			             
			 2012            
			 January 635 256 — 436 649 303 18 1,307 447 461 253 
			 February 632 256 — 434 648 302 18 1,292 447 457 253 
			 March 630 256 — 434 649 303 18 1,289 447 454 253 
			 April 623 254 — 429 647 297 12 1,255 447 450 252 
			 May 625 255 — 430 647 296 13 1,283 446 451 252 
			 June 623 254 — 430 647 297 13 1,273 446 450 252 
			 July 623 254 — 429 647 299 12 1,255 147 450 252 
			 (1 )Land Registry sold its Head Office building in London in April 2011 and relocated employees to an existing office in Croydon. 
		
	
	Letter from Peter Mason dated 16 July 2012
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 12 July 2012, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about headcount.
	The number of staff in post at NMO was as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 January 70 71 66 
			 February 68 71 66 
			 March 73 70 67 
			 April 73 70 66 
			 May 72 70 66 
			 June 71 70 66 
			 July 71 70 — 
			 August 71 70 — 
			 September 71 70 — 
			 October 71 70 — 
			 November 71 69 — 
			 December 71 67 — 
		
	
	NMO is based in Teddington, Greater London, and does not have any staff employed at 1 Victoria street.
	Letter from John Alty
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 12th July 2012, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Headcount (HC) and Full time equivalent (FTE) of Intellectual Property Office since January 2010 is as follows in table below. London location—Bloomsbury Street until April 2012, Current location, Abbey Orchard Street.
	
		
			   Headcount Full-time Equivalent 
			 2010    
			 January Wales 877 827.97 
			  London 29 28.59 
			  Total 906.00 856.57 
			 February Wales 876 826.70 
			  London 29 28.59 
			  Total 905.00 855.29 
			 March Wales 878 828.69 
			  London 30 29.59 
			  Total 908.00 858.28 
			 April Wales 878 828.59 
			  London 29 28.59 
			  Total 907.00 857.18 
			 May Wales 878 828.59 
			  London 30 29.59 
		
	
	
		
			  Total 908.00 858.18 
			 June Wales 875 825.09 
			  London 31 30.59 
			  Total 906.00 855.68 
			 July Wales 874 823.78 
			  London 33 32.59 
			  Total 907.00 856.37 
			 August Wales 871 819.65 
			  London 33 32.59 
			  Total 904 852.24 
			 September Wales 872 819.40 
			  London 30 29.59 
			  Total 902.00 848.99 
			 October Wales 866 812.11 
			  London 31 30.59 
			  Total 897.00 842.71 
			 November Wales 864 809.75 
			  London 33 32.59 
			  Total 897.00 842.35 
			 December Wales 864 809.35 
			  London 30 29.59 
			  Total 894.00 838.94 
			     
			 2011    
			 January Wales 865 810.48 
			  London 32 32.00 
			  Total 897 842.48 
			 February Wales 864 809.44 
			  London 33 32.17 
			  Total 897 841.61 
			 March Wales 864 809.77 
			  London 36 35.17 
			  Total 900 844.94 
			 April Wales 862 807.74 
			  London 37 35.82 
			  Total 899 843.56 
			 May Wales 864 807.86 
			  London 38 36.82 
			  Total 902 844.68 
			 June Wales 863 806.90 
			  London 39 37.82 
			  Total 902 844.72 
			 July Wales 859 803.39 
			  London 38 36.82 
			  Total 897 840.21 
			 August Wales 857 801.59 
			  London 39 38.17 
			  Total 896 839.76 
			 September Wales 859 802.72 
			  London 38 37.17 
			  Total 897 839.89 
			 October Wales 858 801.66 
			  London 39 38.17 
			  Total 897 839.83 
			 November Wales 859 802.84 
			  London 41 40.20 
			  Total 900 843.04 
			 December Wales 858 801.65 
			  London 45 44.17 
			  Total 903 845.82 
			     
			 2012    
			 January Wales 861 803.81 
			  London 46 45.17 
		
	
	
		
			  Total 907 848.98 
			 February Wales 871 811.83 
			  London 45 44.17 
			  Total 916 856.00 
			 March Wales 870 811.06 
			  London 45 43.86 
			  Total 915 854.92 
			 April Wales 872 814.08 
			  London 49 47.86 
			  Total 921 861.94 
			 May Wales 902 843.78 
			  London 49 48.28 
			  Total 951 892.07 
			 June Wales 901 843.11 
			  London 50 49.28 
			  Total 951 892.40 
			 July Wales 899 840.98 
			  London 54 53.49 
			  Total 953 894.47 
		
	
	Letter from Kim Thorne y work dated 16 July 2012
	Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the headcount was of his Department and each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies, by region and it's Victoria Street, London, office, in each month since January 2010.
	Please be advised that the Agency has used end of quarter figures which have been applied to the preceding months. Please refer to the accompanying spreadsheet providing a detailed breakdown of the data.
	
		
			 Skills funding agency headcount report by region 
			  2010 / 11 
			  Quarter 1 2010 Quarter 2 2010 Quarter 3 2010 Quarter 4 2011 
			  Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 
			 East Midlands 133 133 133 129 129 129 113 113 113 112 112 112 
			 East of England 120 120 120 118 118 118 101 101 101 100 100 100 
			 London 194 194 194 190 190 190 177 177 177 200 200 200 
			 North East 124 124 124 120 120 120 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			 North West 177 177 177 175 175 175 150 150 150 148 148 148 
			 South East 173 173 173 171 171 171 150 150 150 148 148 148 
			 South West 133 133 133 132 132 132 120 120 120 118 118 118 
			 West Midlands 676 676 676 671 671 671 580 580 580 578 578 578 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 171 171 171 169 169 169 154 154 154 151 151 151 
			 Grand Total 1,901 1,901 1,901 1,875 1,875 1,875 1,645 1,645 1,645 1,655 1,655 1,655 
		
	
	
		
			  201 1/ 1 2 
			  Quarter 1 201 1 Quarter 2 201 1 Quarter 3 201 1 Quarter 4 201 2 
			  Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 
			 East Midlands 112 112 112 106 106 106 89 89 89 50 50 50 
			 East of England 99 99 99 94 94 94 79 79 79 54 54 54 
			 London 195 195 195 190 190 190 200 200 200 177 177 177 
			 North East 99 99 99 95 95 95 91 91 91 75 75 75 
			 North West 146 146 146 137 137 137 144 144 144 123 123 123 
			 South East 147 147 147 143 143 143 145 145 145 118 118 118 
			 South West 116 116 116 113 113 113 109 109 109 68 68 68 
			 West Midlands 569 569 569 545 545 545 551 551 551 497 497 497 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 150 150 150 142 142 142 121 121 121 97 97 97 
			 Grand Total 1633 1633 1633 1565 1565 1565 1529 1529 1529 1259 1259 1259 
		
	
	
		
			  2012/13 
			  Quarter 1 201 2 
			  Apr May Jun 
			 East Midlands 46 46 46 
			 East of England 52 52 52 
			 London 175 175 175 
			 North East 76 76 76 
			 North West 122 122 122 
			 South East 120 120 120 
			 South West 69 69 69 
			 West Midlands 488 488 488 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 100 100 100 
			 Grand Total 1,248 1,248 1,248 
			 Notes: 1. We have used our end of quarter figures and applied these to the preceding months. 2. The Skills Funding Agency was created in April 2010 so it is only possible to provide data from this date forwards. 
		
	
	
		
			 Skills Funding Agency headcount report—Victoria Street, London office 
			  London – Victoria Street office 
			 2010/11  
			 Quarter 4  
			 March 2011 200 
			   
			 2011/12  
			 Quarter 1  
			 April 2011 195 
			 May 2011 195 
			 June 2011 195 
			   
			 Quarter 2  
			 July 2011 190 
			 August 2011 190 
			 September 2011 190 
			   
			 Quarter 3  
			 October 2011 200 
			 November 2011 200 
			 December 2011 200 
			   
			 Quarter 4  
			 January 2012 177 
			 February 2012 177 
			 March 2012 177 
			   
			 2012/13  
			 Quarter 1  
			 April 2012 175 
			 May 2012 175 
			 June 2012 175 
			 Notes: 1. We have used our end of quarter figures and applied these to the preceding months. 2. The Skills Funding Agency moved into Victoria Street in March 2011 so it is only possible to provide data from this date forwards. 
		
	
	Letter from Vanessa Lawrence dated 16 July 2012
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to you in response to your Parliamentary Question asking The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills "what the headcount was of (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies, by region and (c) its Victoria Street, London, office, in each month since January 2010."
	Ordnance Survey, as the national mapping agency of Great Britain, is a Department in its own right with Executive Agency Status operating as a government Trading Fund. It reports to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The relevant headcounts of Ordnance Survey since January 2010 are given in the table at Annexe A to this letter. Ordnance Survey has no staff based in the BIS Office at 1 Victoria Street, London, but has a small field survey office in Buckingham Palace Road, London. Ordnance Survey's head Office is in Southampton at the above address.
	I hope this information is of use.
	
		
			 Annexe A: Ordnance Survey Total Headcount by Month and Region 
			  London South East South West West Midlands North West North East 
			 2010       
			 January 21 964 26 22 31 13 
			 February 20 967 26 22 31 13 
			 March 20 965 26 22 31 13 
			 April 20 954 26 22 31 13 
			 May 20 950 26 21 31 13 
			 June 18 952 26 21 31 12 
			 July 18 951 26 21 31 12 
			 August 18 949 26 21 31 12 
			 September 18 945 26 21 31 12 
			 October 18 944 26 21 31 12 
			 November 18 942 26 21 31 12 
			 December 18 917 26 21 31 12 
			 2011       
			 January 18 915 26 21 31 12 
			 February 18 915 26 21 31 12 
			 March 18 900 26 21 31 12 
			 April 18 885 26 21 31 12 
			 May 18 882 26 21 31 12 
			 June 18 877 26 21 31 12 
			 July 18 876 26 21 31 12 
			 August 20 864 25 22 31 14 
			 September 20 860 25 23 31 14 
			 October 20 860 25 23 30 14 
			 November 20 857 25 23 30 13 
			 December 20 856 25 23 30 13 
			 2012       
			 January 20 850 24 23 30 13 
			 February 20 853 24 23 30 13 
			 March 20 848 24 22 30 13 
			 April 20 853 24 23 30 13 
			 May 20 862 20 23 30 13 
			 June 20 857 20 22 30 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Yorkshire and Humber East Midlands East of England Wales Scotland Total 
			 2010       
			 January 27 24 26 18 34 1,206 
			 February 27 24 26 18 34 1,208 
			 March 27 24 26 18 34 1,206 
			 April 27 24 26 18 34 1,195 
			 May 27 24 26 18 34 1,190 
			 June 27 22 26 18 34 1,187 
			 July 27 22 26 18 34 1,186 
			 August 26 22 26 18 34 1,183 
			 September 26 22 26 18 34 1,179 
			 October 26 22 26 18 34 1,178 
			 November 26 22 26 18 34 1,176 
			 December 26 22 26 18 34 1,151 
			 2011       
		
	
	
		
			 January 25 22 26 18 33 1,147 
			 February 25 22 26 18 33 1,147 
			 March 25 22 26 18 33 1,132 
			 April 25 22 26 18 33 1,117 
			 May 25 21 26 18 33 1,113 
			 June 25 21 26 18 33 1,108 
			 July 25 20 25 18 33 1,105 
			 August 25 21 26 19 33 1,100 
			 September 25 22 26 19 33 1,098 
			 October 25 22 26 19 33 1,097 
			 November 2S 22 26 19 33 1,093 
			 December 25 22 26 19 32 1,091 
			 2012       
			 January 25 22 26 19 32 1,084 
			 February 2S 22 25 19 32 1,086 
			 March 24 20 25 19 30 1,075 
			 April 24 19 25 19 30 1,080 
			 May 24 17 24 19 30 1,082 
			 June 24 17 24 19 30 1,076 
			 Note: These numbers represent total Ordnance Survey employee numbers and include full-time and part-time workers. The figures for "South East" include the staff employed at Ordnance Survey's Head Office in Southampton.

Working Hours

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2012, Official Report, columns 992-3W, on working hours, if he will publish the figures for the average number of hours worked by UK workers compared to workers in other countries for each year in which data is available.

Norman Lamb: The Office of National Statistics already publishes the results of the Labour Force Survey quarterly which includes information on working hours. In accordance with EU regulations, this information is submitted to Eurostat, which collates information provided by all 27 EU member states as well as candidate countries and Iceland, Norway and Switzerland and publishes it on its website:
	http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/statistics/search_database
	The most recent 10 years data on average number of actual hours worked by the UK workforce in comparison to other EU countries is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Average number of actual weekly hours of work in main job 
			  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 European Union (27 countries) 37.6 37.6 37.6 37.7 37.5 37.4 37.3 36.9 36.9 36.9 
			 Austria 38.9 38.8 39.4 38.7 38.5 38.0 37.6 36.6 36.5 36.6 
			 Belgium 36.6 36.4 36.2 36.7 36.8 37.0 36.7 36.6 36.9 36.8 
			 Bulgaria 41.2 39.9 40.6 40.6 41.0 41.1 41.0 40.3 40.5 40.2 
			 Croatia 40.6 40.5 40.2 39.6 39.8 39.8 39.5 39.2 39.0 38.9 
			 Cyprus 38.3 38.0 38.6 39.1 39.1 39.0 38.9 38.6 38.8 38.6 
			 Czech Republic 41.3 41.4 42.0 41.7 41.4 41.3 41.3 40.5 40.4 40.3 
			 Denmark 34.9 34.2 33.7 35.1 34.8 34.9 34.7 34.3 34.6 34.9 
			 Estonia 40.4 39.6 40.0 39.9 39.9 39.6 39.1 37.6 38.4 38.6 
			 Finland 36.7 36.0 36.5 37.0 36.8 36.7 36.7 36.1 36.4 36.4 
			 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the — — — — 43.4 42.7 42.6 41.6 41.5 41.2 
			 France 37.6 36.8 36.7 36.8 36.8 36.7 36.8 36.5 36.8 36.8 
			 Germany 37.4 36.9 36.9 36.8 36.0 36.0 35.9 35.3 35.6 35.6 
			 Greece 42.0 42.1 42.1 41.9 41.5 41.2 41.0 40.8 40.9 40.9 
			 Hungary 41.3 40.6 40.7 40.3 40.2 39.9 40.0 39.6 39.6 39.1 
			 Iceland 41.4 40.4 40.6 40.9 41.1 40.6 40.5 38.5 38.5 38.9 
			 Ireland 37.7 37.2 37.0 37.3 37.1 36.7 36.3 35.1 34.9 34.9 
			 Italy 35.7 38.9 38.4 38.1 37.9 38.0 37.6 37.2 37.3 37.0 
			 Latvia 42.5 42.0 41.1 41.4 41.3 40.5 39.4 38.8 38.4 38.6 
			 Lithuania 38.5 37.6 37.9 38.1 38.1 38.6 39.2 38.6 38.4 38.3 
			 Luxembourg 38.6 37.9 38.2 37.9 37.6 37.5 37.2 37.8 37.7 37.8 
			 Malta 39.7 38.3 40.7 39.1 38.7 38.9 39.0 38.8 38.1 37.7 
			 Netherlands 30.6 30.9 30.6 31.6 31.9 31.7 31.7 31.4 31.5 31.7 
			 Norway 34.9 32.8 32.9 34.5 34.2 34.0 34.1 33.7 33.7 33.9 
			 Poland 40.5 40.5 40.6 40.3 40.3 40.3 40.1 39.7 39.6 39.5 
			 Portugal 38.3 37.5 38.7 38.4 38.3 37.9 37.9 37.9 38.1 38.0 
			 Romania 40.6 40.7 40.7 40.1 39.8 39.7 39.6 39.4 39.2 39.2 
			 Slovakia 40.8 40.5 40.7 41.0 40.1 40.3 39.8 39.2 39.5 39.5 
			 Slovenia 40.5 40.2 39.6 40.2 39.5 39.5 39.5 38.8 38.6 38.4 
			 Spain 38.5 37.7 38.3 38.6 38.5 38.4 38.3 37.8 37.7 37.5 
			 Sweden 34.7 33.9 34.4 35.6 35.4 35.4 35.4 35.0 35.8 35.7 
			 Switzerland 36.8 37.0 37.2 37.3 37.3 36.8 37.0 36.4 36.8 36.7 
			 Turkey — — — — 51.5 49.3 49.7 48.4 47.4 47.0 
			 United Kingdom 35.9 35.5 35.5 35.8 35.7 35.8 35.5 35.4 35.3 35.3 
			 Source: Eurostat: lfsa_ewhais